Mikey Garcia: record, next fight and profile →
Mikey Garcia became a three division world champion with a stunning return to Las Vegas on Saturday with a thunderous stoppage of Dejan Zlaticanin that could be an early contender for knockout of the year. After a two-and-a-half year hiatus from the ring due to injury, former featherweight and super featherweight world titlist Garcia faced WBC lightweight champion Zlaticanin at the MGM Grand.
Mikey Garcia sensationally captured his third divisional championship when, shortly after hurting Dejan Zlaticanin with a right uppercut, he spun to the side and nailed the soon-to-be former WBC lightweight champion with a crushing right to the jaw that left him unconscious. Referee Tony Weeks immediately waved off the fight, one in which Garcia started unusually fast and worked the jab almost constantly to keep the Montenegro native at bay.
MGM Grand, Las Vegas - Ringstar Sports CEO Richard Schaefer is expecting a very big future for WBC lightweight champion Mikey Garcia (36-0, 30 KOs). On Saturday night, Garcia pulled off a major statement with a crushing three round knockout of previously undefeated of Dejan Zlaticanin to capture the WBC crown. A two-punch combination sent Zlaticanin down and completely out. Zlaticanin was unconscious for at least a minute before the ringside physicians were able to partially get him up and sit him down on a stool.
Mikey Garcia Video Interview - LAS VEGAS - Leo Santa Cruz reclaimed the WBA featherweight title Saturday night with a majority decision over Carl Frampton.
Mikey Garcia became a three-division world champion with a vicious third-round knockout of previously undefeated defending WBC Lightweight World Champion Dejan Zlaticanin in the co-main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.
MGM Grand, Las Vegas - Mikey Garcia (36-0, 30 KOs) secured a brutal third round knockout of previously undefeated Dejan Zlaticanin (announced as 18-1, 11 KOs in the arena, but 22-1, 15 KOs on boxrec) to capture the WBC lightweight title.
Dejan Zlaticanin vs. Mikey Garcia Scorecard Live - LAS VEGAS - The stage is set for the Premier Boxing Champions event later tonight from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and live on SHOWTIME.
Both Mikey Garcia and Dejan Zlaticanin throw well below the lightweight average, but land a higher percentage of total punches and power punches. 13.3 of Zlaticanin's 15.4 landed punches (86.4%) per round were power punches. Garcia opponents landed just 24.9% of their power shots.
Dejan Zlaticanin Video Interview - LAS VEGAS - The stage is set for the Premier Boxing Champions event later tonight from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and live on SHOWTIME.
Mikey Garcia isn’t interested in taking a perceived easier route toward a third world title. That’s why the undefeated contender accepted a difficult fight Saturday night in just his second appearance after a 2½-year layoff. The 29-year-old Garcia recognizes he needs to dethrone an undefeated, powerful fighter like Montenegro’s Dejan Zlaticanin to re-establish himself as one of the best boxers in the world.