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Boxing news: Spence vs. Garcia rivalry proves boxing is anything but dead
Posted By Max Mingay
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The two best 140-pound boxers in the world are in the same weight class, and they just happen to hate each other with a passion that can’t be quenched inside the ring or out of it. The Spence vs Garcia rivalry has brought boxing back into focus, even if only temporarily and even if only for fight fans who want to see them tear each other apart inside the ring as much as they have outside of it before meeting up to do so again.
Who is Errol Spence Jr.?
A son of a former sharecropper from Texas, Errol Spence Jr. is an undefeated professional boxer who’s known for being well-schooled in the sweet science as well as for his impeccable manners inside and outside the ring.
In 2016, Errol was crowned champion at 147 pounds when he became the IBF welterweight world champion after defeating a familiar face to fight fans, Kell Brook by way of unanimous decision in Brook’s hometown of Sheffield, England.
He followed that win up with TKO victories over Leonard Bundu and Lamont Peterson before another big accomplishment in his young career when he faced off against Jessie Vargas on January 20th, 2018 to take home the WBA welterweight world title belt.
Who Is Mikey Garcia?
Growing up in Oxnard, California, Mikey was on the honor roll and served as a captain of his football team while taking kickboxing classes during high school at age 14. Mikey later went on to win an NCAA National Championship with the University of Arizona Wildcats and it was then that he decided to fully commit himself to become a pro boxer. In 2005, he turned pro and continued to fight as an amateur until 2006 when he turned 20 years old and started fighting professionals under World ข่าวมวย standards with rankings near the top of his divisional rankings for featherweight for seven years before moving up in weight class.
What are their records?
Spence (26-0, 22 KOs) and Garcia (39-1, 34 KOs) have held some of the sport's highest titles. Spence won the IBF welterweight belt in 2017 with a unanimous decision over one of his more experienced opponents in Carlos Ocampo. His next bout was a unification fight against Errol Spence Jr., who had been on a roll himself since coming into the sport as a pro three years earlier at the age of 21. That fight, for all intents and purposes, was to determine who would be recognized as best in their weight class from 147 pounds to 154 pounds — and both men won — each defending their belt while also claiming ownership of that coveted distinction.
When and where will this fight be held?
May 20th at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. In terms of venue and time slot, it doesn't get much better than this! Pay-per-view? Yes, please! It will be an incredible show on paper and an even more incredible fight on the night of the event.
How can I watch this fight?
You'll have to tune in to Showtime and use the SHOWTIME app to enjoy this exciting match-up between welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. and undefeated challenger Mikey Garcia in a junior welterweight fight that will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network Saturday, February 9th starting at 6 p.m. EST/PST from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas!
When does it start?
The entire country of Mexico was lit up with boxing fever as the World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez and Mexican compatriot Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., which has drawn sold-out crowds to Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, drew huge attention to Las Vegas on Saturday night. The T-Mobile Arena was filled with fight fans chanting olé and waving green and red flags; beer, ice cream, hamburgers, and chips were all available at concession stands before the opening bell rang
Why should I care about this fight?
The two fighters, Spence and Garcia, faced off for the first time in June 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY where they battled for 12 rounds before it was declared a draw. The well-matched pair will now meet again this weekend at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for the welterweight world title vacant since May 2012 when Floyd Mayweather's reign ended. A winner will be crowned on Saturday night after 30 months of waiting and a mere 28 rounds of action (6 fights) among contenders seeking to fill the void left by Mayweather's retirement.
Who is Errol Spence Jr.?
A son of a former sharecropper from Texas, Errol Spence Jr. is an undefeated professional boxer who’s known for being well-schooled in the sweet science as well as for his impeccable manners inside and outside the ring.
In 2016, Errol was crowned champion at 147 pounds when he became the IBF welterweight world champion after defeating a familiar face to fight fans, Kell Brook by way of unanimous decision in Brook’s hometown of Sheffield, England.
He followed that win up with TKO victories over Leonard Bundu and Lamont Peterson before another big accomplishment in his young career when he faced off against Jessie Vargas on January 20th, 2018 to take home the WBA welterweight world title belt.
Who Is Mikey Garcia?
Growing up in Oxnard, California, Mikey was on the honor roll and served as a captain of his football team while taking kickboxing classes during high school at age 14. Mikey later went on to win an NCAA National Championship with the University of Arizona Wildcats and it was then that he decided to fully commit himself to become a pro boxer. In 2005, he turned pro and continued to fight as an amateur until 2006 when he turned 20 years old and started fighting professionals under World ข่าวมวย standards with rankings near the top of his divisional rankings for featherweight for seven years before moving up in weight class.
What are their records?
Spence (26-0, 22 KOs) and Garcia (39-1, 34 KOs) have held some of the sport's highest titles. Spence won the IBF welterweight belt in 2017 with a unanimous decision over one of his more experienced opponents in Carlos Ocampo. His next bout was a unification fight against Errol Spence Jr., who had been on a roll himself since coming into the sport as a pro three years earlier at the age of 21. That fight, for all intents and purposes, was to determine who would be recognized as best in their weight class from 147 pounds to 154 pounds — and both men won — each defending their belt while also claiming ownership of that coveted distinction.
When and where will this fight be held?
May 20th at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. In terms of venue and time slot, it doesn't get much better than this! Pay-per-view? Yes, please! It will be an incredible show on paper and an even more incredible fight on the night of the event.
How can I watch this fight?
You'll have to tune in to Showtime and use the SHOWTIME app to enjoy this exciting match-up between welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. and undefeated challenger Mikey Garcia in a junior welterweight fight that will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network Saturday, February 9th starting at 6 p.m. EST/PST from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas!
When does it start?
The entire country of Mexico was lit up with boxing fever as the World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez and Mexican compatriot Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., which has drawn sold-out crowds to Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, drew huge attention to Las Vegas on Saturday night. The T-Mobile Arena was filled with fight fans chanting olé and waving green and red flags; beer, ice cream, hamburgers, and chips were all available at concession stands before the opening bell rang
Why should I care about this fight?
The two fighters, Spence and Garcia, faced off for the first time in June 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY where they battled for 12 rounds before it was declared a draw. The well-matched pair will now meet again this weekend at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for the welterweight world title vacant since May 2012 when Floyd Mayweather's reign ended. A winner will be crowned on Saturday night after 30 months of waiting and a mere 28 rounds of action (6 fights) among contenders seeking to fill the void left by Mayweather's retirement.
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