Robert Easter: record, next fight and profile →
LOS ANGELES - Mikey Garcia is putting his words into action. The popular Mexican-American fighter could make a voluntary defense of his world title belt and notch another victory, but he wants to face the best possible competition out there.
Robert Easter Jr. (21-0) is down in South Florida working with world class trainer Kevin Cunningham who has been added to his team for his next fight. Easter, who holds the IBF lightweight belt, was last in action in January when he won a split decision over Javier Fortuna in Brooklyn.
A date and a venue for the lightweight title unification bout between Mikey Garcia and Robert Easter Jr. could be finalized soon. The Los Angeles Times reported late Monday night that negotiations are ongoing for the Garcia-Easter fight to take place either July 28 or sometime in mid-August or late-August at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Showtime would televise Garcia-Easter if a deal is completed.
According to World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman, his organization was informed that WBC lightweight champion Mikey Garcia (38-0, 30 KOs) will unify with IBF champion Robert Easter (21-0, 14 KOs). Garcia captured the WBC title last January with a crushing knockout of Dejan Zlaticanin at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Richard Commey (26-2, 23 KOs) is looking ahead to securing himself another crack at a world lightweight title belt in 2018. Commey bounced back from two controversial split decision defeats, one being to current IBF world champion Robert Easter Jr. (21-0, 14 KOs).
Mikey Garcia (38-0, 30 KOs) is quickly finding out the consequences of holding world titles in multiple weight divisions. This past Saturday night in Texas, Garcia became the IBF junior welterweight champion with a twelve round unanimous decision over Sergey Lipinets at the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio.
Mikey Garcia reiterated early Sunday morning that Jorge Linares remains the lightweight champion he wants to fight most. Linares, however, could be headed toward a defense of his WBC title against Vasyl Lomachenko on May 12 at Madison Square Garden. If Lomachenko-Linares materializes and Garcia indeed moves back down to the 135-pound division for his next fight, Robert Easter Jr. gladly will accept that challenge.
Javier Fortuna Video Interview - Errol Spence Jr. was even more dazzling in defending his title than he was while winning it. Spence battered Lamont Peterson until the fight was stopped a second into the eighth round Saturday night in the first defense of the welterweight title he won last year.
Errol Spence: Who’s the No. 1 fighter pound for pound? Depends when you ask. After Vasyl Lomachenko fights, everyone seems to agree “it doesn’t get better than that.” After Terence Crawford fights, you shake your head and say “Damn. Maybe this guy is the best.” And after Mikey Garcia fights, I personally think “this guy could end up at the top one day soon.”
NEW YORK – Javier Fortuna feels he was “robbed” on Saturday night in Brooklyn. He’s still willing to travel to Toledo, Ohio, if that’s what it takes to get a second shot at Robert Easter Jr. That’s the proposal the Dominican southpaw pitched following his controversial, split-decision defeat to the IBF lightweight champion in their 12-round, non-title fight at Barclays Center.