Determinado si dating four-division titlist Mikey Garcia na talunin si World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao sakaling matuloy ang laban ng dalawa na tinitingnang posibilidad na dalhin sa Jeddah, Saudi Arabia anumang petsa sa bakasyon.
Impresibo ang naging panalo ng 41-anyos na Filipino boxing legend laban kay Keith Thurman noong Hulyo ng isang taon kung saan nakuha nito ang kanyang 147-lbs title sa pamamagitan ng split decision victory sa MGM Grand Garden Arena sa Las Vegas, Nevada.
Kung kaya’t ito ang nagiging inspirasyon ni Garcia upang maging matagumpay laban sa pambansang kamao.
“I think I can definitely show everybody that, you know, even though he looked great [against Thurman], I can take him out and show that I’m just as great. And I need that opportunity. I need to get in the ring (with Pacquiao),” pahayag ni Garcia sa isang website.
Matatandaang isa si Garcia sa mga tinukoy na maaaring maging sunod na kalaban ng Eight-Division World champion ngayong taon.
Nito lamang nakaraang linggo ay matagumpay na nagwagi si Garcia laban kay Jesse Vargas sa isang unanimous decision sa Ford Center sa Star sa Frisco, Texas, upang maipakita ang karapatan nitong makaharap ang Fighting Senator.
“I would love to get in the ring with Manny,” wika ni Garcia matapos ang laban kay Vargas.
“You know, it’s a fight that’s been mentioned and talked about for several years. And now that I have a win in the welterweight division, people can actually consider me a viable contender.
And it’s been talked about for several years, so with this victory, it’s more accessible. And I would love to fight Manny Pacquiao. He’s a living legend. I would love to share that ring with him,” dagdag nito.
Bago pa man magwagi si Garcia kay Vargas ay nauna muna itong mabigo laban kay International Boxing Federation (IBF) at World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight titlist Errol Spence Jr.
Noong Marso ng nakaraang taon na nagtapos sa unanimous decision win kay Spence.
Desidido ang 32-year-old na Oxnard, California, native na maisama sa kanyang listahan ang pambansang kamao.