Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank
Mikey Garcia vs. Rocky Martinez
Lenin Acevedo, Photographer
This is definitely a win for Mikey Garcia. Rocky’s toughness just isn’t enough to surpass Garcia’s talent. Garcia is part of a new breed of Mexican-American fighters. Fighters who can win with brawn as well as with brains. Garcia takes this win with an eighth or ninth round TKO.
Prediction: Garcia
Juan Carlos Burgos, Contributing Writer
In the main event, rising star Mikey Garcia will seek his second world title vs. Rocky Martinez. Martinez is a tough, gritty fighter who will not give up his belt easily. I view Garcia as a real blue chipper who has been on a roll recently. Martinez has a propensity to brawl and is always there to be hit. He may want to employ some lateral movement because one thing we know about Garcia is that he is a sniper. If Martinez elects to come straight forward he will have his work cut out. Effective aggressiveness will be the key for Martinez. If he tries to brawl, Garcia will just pick him apart, and from what I have seen from both fighters that is exactly how this will play out. Martinez will start out boxing–which by-the-way his boxing ability is underrated–but will at some point abandon boxing and come forward and this will be his undoing. Garcia is patient, accurate and has power and this–among other reasons–is why he will be victorious on Saturday night.
Prediction: Garcia
Rob Anthony, Contributing Writer
Mikey Garcia had troubles making weight for his fight against Juan Manuel Lopez and lost a title on the scales. Hopefully, with new fitness coach Alex Ariza, he will be fit and ready to go. Although this should be a tough fight, I expect another win for Garcia.
Prediction: Garcia
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Rocky Martinez has been the benefactor of questionable decisions in his two most recent bouts. I thought he lost to Juan Carlos Burgos without a doubt, and I had Diego Magdaleno winning by a slight margin. I think Martinez’s luck will run out against Mikey Garcia. Garcia is at the doorstep of boxing’s elite, and–ala Biggie Smalls–he’s ready to “Kick in the Door.” This kid has the speed, power and precision to give anyone fits and I believe he will put on an impressive performance against Puerto Rico’s last champion. If you don’t have Garcia on your pound-for-pound list, after this bout, you will.
Prediction: Garcia
