By Keith Idec

Danny Garcia respects Mikey Garcia’s game.

The former junior welterweight and welterweight champion recognizes Garcia’s technical capabilities and admires his ambition. He just can’t envision the four-division champion being able beat Errol Spence Jr.

Danny Garcia agrees with the vast majority of boxing observers who believe Mikey Garcia simply will be too small to fend off the bigger, stronger southpaw when they fight next year for Spence’s IBF welterweight title.

“Mikey’s a good fighter,” Danny Garcia told BoxingScene.com. “He’s a good fighter. He’s a real technical fighter. He has good speed, good timing, good power. I just feel like – I don’t know what he thinks. I don’t know how he his mentally, but I just feel like it’s not a good fight for him.”

Pursuing a seemingly more winnable lightweight title unification fight versus Vasiliy Lomachenko (11-1, 9 KOs) might’ve made more sense for Mikey Garcia from a competitive standpoint.

The Oxnard, California, native will be paid very well for moving up two divisions to challenge Spence, though. The 30-year-old Garcia also essentially could be granted a pass if he loses because he’ll face such a big size disadvantage against an undefeated fighter who’s considered one of the sport’s best, pound-for-pound.

Mikey Garcia plans to train at Victor Conte’s Scientific Nutrition for Advanced Conditioning facility in San Carlos, California, to help him add weight sensibly for what literally and figuratively will be the biggest fight of his career. Danny Garcia doesn’t think that’ll make much difference once Spence imposes his size and strength on him.

“He’s a good fighter,” Danny Garcia said. “He’s undefeated. It can be a great fight. I just think Spence is way too big for him. Spence is probably the biggest welterweight.”

Contracts for the Showtime Pay-Per-View battle between Spence (24-0, 21 KOs) and Mikey Garcia (39-0, 30 KOs) haven’t been finalized. February 16 and February 23 are the dates under consideration for that fight.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.