By Keith Idec
Errol Spence Jr. agreed when asked if Mikey Garcia’s precise punching and textbook technique reminds him of a prime Juan Manuel Marquez.
Spence just isn’t convinced Garcia possesses the “grit and determination” that the retired Mexican legend displayed countless times during his Hall-of-Fame career. While Marquez dug deep numerous times during a 64-fight, 21-year pro career – most notably during four fights against Manny Pacquiao – Spence hasn’t seen comparable fortitude from Garcia because Spence hasn’t witnessed Garcia in that type of battle.
The 29-year-old Spence plans to test Garcia’s will when they fight for the unbeaten southpaw’s IBF welterweight title March 16 at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Spence expects to encounter a smart, sharp technician in their FOX Pay-Per-View main event, but he’ll learn what he’s looking to find out about the undefeated four-division champion once Garcia reacts to taking his left hand and body shots.
The ambitious Garcia also is looking forward to proving he accepted this daunting assignment because he knows can become the first fighter to top Spence, not just for the payday.
“I think his style is very technical, very traditional,” Spence told a group of reporters while promoting their fight recently in Los Angeles. “He likes to use angles and he likes to set his opponents up. And I just think he’s good at that. He has a high boxing IQ. With the Marquez comparison, they’re kind of similar. But we really don’t know if Mikey Garcia has that kind of grit that Marquez had – especially that he showed in the Pacquiao fights and other fights.
“He showed a lot of grit and determination, even getting caught with some shots, and he still maintained his focused, still kept doing what he was doing and came forward. We still don’t know that about Mikey Garcia. Even in 39 fights, we still don’t know that. He hasn’t been through that type of test.”
The taller, stronger Spence (24-0, 21 KOs) has been installed by most Internet and Las Vegas sports books as a 5-1 favorite over Garcia (39-0, 30 KOs), who has won world titles at 126, 130, 135 and 140 pounds.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
