Why does Mikey want to fight Spence so badly?

[Akan]

Why not stay at lightweight and defend the belts then unify with Loma? What's the point in taking such a risky fight with one of the biggest active Welterweights?

[Ray*]

No risk but great rewards. If he loses then meh. If he wins then he would be a major player.

[KTFOKING]

Maybe because the Lomachenko fight would be harder to make? Maybe because the Spence fight is easier to make and he views it as a bigger challenge that will bring out the best out of him? Mikey clearly believes in his skill set and thinks he can out box Spence to a victory. He probably thinks because Spence gets touched up some he will be able to do the same and just out IQ him all night long. Will that happen? Probably not, but he wants that challenge and more power to him. Mikey just won the 140 pound title last year and would be the favorite to beat some, if not most top WWs so this isn't as big of a mismatch as some think. It is like 75/25 Spence, but I think he will be tested for as long as the fight lasts.

[Robi13]

No risk but great rewards. If he loses then meh. If he wins then he would be a major player.

This here... Also, it takes the "Mikey is scared of Loma" talk away from arum

[Akan]

I'd say one of the risks is getting an orbital bone broken. He can take a page from Crawford and unify lightweight before moving up two weight classes to take on one of the biggest punchers.

[Boksfan]

Because Garcia will do anything to run from Lomachenko.

[Akan]

Maybe because the Lomachenko fight would be harder to make? Maybe because the Spence fight is easier to make and he views it as a bigger challenge that will bring out the best out of him? Mikey clearly believes in his skill set and thinks he can out box Spence to a victory. He probably thinks because Spence gets touched up some he will be able to do the same and just out IQ him all night long. Will that happen? Probably not, but he wants that challenge and more power to him. Mikey just won the 140 pound title last year and would be the favorite to beat some, if not most top WWs so this isn't as big of a mismatch as some think. It is like 75/25 Spence, but I think he will be tested for as long as the fight lasts.

He can at least try to make the Loma fight happen before rushing up two weight classes, right? I just don't see the point at all. Sure you can want to challenge yourself it just seems sudden.

[KTFOKING]

He can at least try to make the Loma fight happen before rushing up two weight classes, right? I just don't see the point at all. Sure you can want to challenge yourself it just seems sudden.

He could try to make it after this fight too. Worst case, they can make it at 140 if Garcia can no longer make 135. Lomachenko fight wasn't happening this year or early next year anyways even if he tried to make the fight. So I don't get when people say if he fights Spence, then the Lomachenko fight is gone. That's not true. Could it be harder to make then? Possibly, but not out of the realm of possibility.

[Akan]

He could try to make it after this fight too. Worst case, they can make it at 140 if Garcia can no longer make 135. Lomachenko fight wasn't happening this year or early next year anyways even if he tried to make the fight. So I don't get when people say if he fights Spence, then the Lomachenko fight is gone. That's not true. Could it be harder to make then? Possibly, but not out of the realm of possibility.

But this could be a potentially career ending fight. He destroyed Brook, who is not only larger but I'd say is a slicker boxer than Mikey. It'd be safer to defend the belts he has and FIght Loma, who isn't as devastating a puncher and who dominates the p4p rankings, and I think Mikey has way better odds at beating Loma than he does Spence.

[NearHypnos]

Motivation for him. Loma will still be there.

Mikey from what I know used to not really like boxing so maybe its harder to stay motivated for a guy like that who may or may not be trying to get some legacy fights in and call it a day.