.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Mikey Garcia and Jessie Vargas have vowed to deliver a Fight of the Year-level war in their upcoming welterweight crossroads bout.
With a potential undercard addition comes the possibility of it not even being the best fight of the night.
BoxingScene.com has learned of advanced talks in place for a flyweight clash between recently crowned titlist Julio Cesar Martinez and unbeaten contender Jay Harris. Once finalized, the fight will land on the undercard of a February 29 DAZN shows topped by former multi-division titlists Garcia (39-1, 30KOs) and Vargas (29-2-2, 11KOs), live from The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
ESPN Deportes’ Salvador ‘Chava’ Rodriguez was the first to report the development.
For Mexico’s Martinez (15-1, 12KOs), it will mark a quick turnaround following a breakout 2019 campaign. The 24-year old slugger ended the year by claiming a flyweight title in a 9th round knockout of former titlist Cristofer Rosales last December in Phoenix, Arizona.
The Eddy Reynoso-guided flyweight claimed the belt on his second try, having to settle for a No-Contest in his effort to unseat then-titlist Charlie Edwards last August in London, England. Martinez originally won by 3rd round knockout, only for the verdict to get overturned after it was accurately ruled that Edwards was on the canvas at the time the finishing blow landed.
Still, his dominance in the condensed affair was part of a terrific 2019 campaign which began with an upset knockout of Wales’ Andrew Selby, an unbeaten top-rated contender at the time.
Martinez will potentially kick off his 2020 campaign against another undefeated Welshman, though one coming off a standout 2019 run of his own.
Harris (17-0, 9KOs) wrapped up a three-win year with a 4th round knockout of three-time Olympian and two-time Olympic Bronze medalist Paddy Barnes last November. The 29-year old—who fights under the MTK Global managerial banner—entered the bout on the heels of another notable showing, soundly outpointing former title challenger Angel Moreno last June.
News of the fight potentially making its way to the greater Dallas area is the second lower-weight fight rumored for the show in recent days. As previously reported by BoxingScene.com, Matchroom Boxing’s managing director Eddie Hearn—who promotes the show—is also attempting to put together an intriguing clash between unbeaten junior bantamweight titlist Kal Yafai (26-0, 15KOs) and former four-division champ Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez (48-2, 40KOs).
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox