By Miguel Rivera

Former two division world champion Mikey Garcia (35-0, 29KOs) was shocked to read reports that a deal was reached to fight World Boxing Council lightweight champion Dejan Zlaticanin (22-0, 15KOs) on October 15th.

Garcia has no issue with the fight. He's open to facing Zlaticanin or Terry Flanagan for the World Boxing Organization title.

According to Garcia, he was recently approached by Showtime and manager/adviser Al Haymon to see if he was interested in facing Zlaticanin - and he told them he was - but that's as far as things went so far.

Garcia's preferred target is Flanagan. The fight looked distant two weeks ago, because Flanagan was ordered to make a mandatory defense against Felix Verdejo. Things have quickly changed, because Verdejo was involved in a motorcycle accident last Sunday and will now be out of the ring for the remainder of the year. That opens the door for Flanagan to make a voluntary against Garcia.

"I was surprised [to hear about this] in the morning. I was taking my kids to school and I began to get notifications and everything," Garcia told ESPN Deportes. "On Saturday, I was asked by Showtime and Al Haymon if I was interested in the fight with Dejan Zlaticanin - if the fight with Terry Flanagan was not done - and I told them that of course I was."

"I was told Flanagan was going to fight Verdejo, but now with [Verdejo's] accident I'm waiting to see if [Flanagan] decides [to fight] me. Of course I am willing to fight Zlatincanin. I am willing to fight any champion."

Garcia, a promotional and managerial free agent, also denied some of the rumors that he signed with Haymon and comebacking promoter Richard Schaefer.

"None of this is confirmed, I have not talked about the particulars of that fight. I said yes, but I have not signed anything, nor have I signed with Richard Schaefer. The only time that I spoke with him was when I fought with [Elio] Rojas [last month] and he told me that he was interested in putting me on a show in October and that was it," Garcia said.

According to industry rumors, Schaefer is planning to stage the first show of his new promotional company on October 15th, possibly at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.