Three-division world champion Mikey Garcia (37-0, 30 KOs) is a man on a mission to become the next big star in boxing.
He wants to claim that position that Floyd Mayweather Jr. vacated when he retired from boxing, this time for good, in August.
To get there, Garcia will first have to face and defeat, IBF junior welterweight world champion Sergey Lipinets (13-0, 10 KOs). Their fight is scheduled for Saturday, February 10 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas and headlines a Showtime televised event.
Lipinets will be making the first defense of his world title while Garcia looks to become only the third fighter in modern history to become a champion at 126, 130, 135 and 140-pounds, joining future Hall of Famers Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao.
"A world champion like Sergey Lipinets is more exciting an opponent for me than an easy title defense. I wanted a challenge and this man presents that. He's a bigger man naturally. He's going to be very hungry and motivated. He knows a victory over me launches his career to the top. That's going to make this an interesting fight," Garcia said.
"To win a world title in a fourth division is a big deal to me. My dad always wanted a three-division world champion, and now I have a chance to give him a fourth title. That's something that really excites me."
But the biggest goal for Garcia, is to become the sport's leader, the biggest star in boxing. He believes that he's well on his way to accomplishing that goal.
"I know that I have the possibility to be the biggest star in boxing like a Floyd Mayweather, and I think I'm on track to accomplish that. I don't see a lot of guys in the sport with the resume of accomplishments that I have. I'm going to continue take on the best and beat my opponents convincingly," Garcia said.
