By Steve Kim
Reigning WBC lightweight champion, Mikey Garcia, is moving up to junior welterweight to face former four division world champion Adrien Broner on July 29th.
But, he's made it clear that he will be moving back down in weight and hope to face the likes of Jorge Linares and Vasyl Lomachenko in the future.
Garcia (36-0, 30 KOs) was in the ring back in January, when he scored a brutal third round knockout over Dejan Zlaticanin to capture the WBC title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
It's clear that from this point forward he wants to go big-game hunting. And most of the big names at lightweight, junior welterweight and even welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao are on his list of potential targets.
But to get those fights, will Garcia - who had a highly publicized split from Top Rank - have to sign a multi-fight commitment to a promoter? Or will he be able to get these bouts as basically an independent contractor.
"I think after this Broner fight, if everything goes well as we plan, I think I'll position myself in a much bigger place where I can leverage these kinds of fights on a fight-by-fight basis. Maybe a rematch clause with one of these big fights but you have to position yourself in the right place where everything is in your favor," explained Garcia, during his in-studio appearance on 'the 3 Knockdown Rule with Mario Lopez' on Wednesday.
"I think this bout will position me in a place where I could land the Linares fight without any further commitment, I could land a Lomachenko fight or a Manny Pacquiao or a Terence Crawford," continued Garcia."
These fights at that point will be available because they also need me. As much as I need them - they will need me."
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com