There is big news today for the junior welterweight division. Pound for pound elite fighter Mikey Garcia had a decision to make on which of his world titles to defend and he has chosen his IBF junior welterweight title over his WBC lightweight title. This means he will remain at 140 pounds at least for his next fight.
30 year old Miguel “Mikey” Garcia (38-0, 30 KOs) ended a long and disappointing lay off due to a promotional contract dispute in 2016. For his first fight back, he fought a tune up at junior welterweight against Elio Rojas. Following that fight, however, the Californian dropped back down to lightweight and won the WBC world title at the weight with a sensational knockout of Dejan Zlaticanin. That win marked Garcia’s third world title with the elite fighter previously having won belts at featherweight and junior lightweight as well.
Instead of defending that belt, Mikey Garcia moved back up to junior welterweight for a big money super fight with Adrien Broner. Garcia dominated and was offered a fourth world title opportunity at the weight against Sergey Lipinets in his next fight. That was his most recent contest with Mikey largely dominating a game but mostly overmatched Lipinets on his way to joining the elite group of four division world titleholders just a couple weeks ago.
Holding two belts from two different sanctioning bodies at two different weights, Mikey Garcia had to make a decision. He has officially chosen to hold onto the IBF junior welterweight title. This means the WBC lightweight belt will be vacated. The belt he held on to has a catch, however, as the IBF has mandated that number one contender Ivan Baranchyk (18-0, 11 KOs) of Belarus must get his shot next. Mikey Garcia has accepted this.
As a fight, I see Mikey Garcia versus Ivan Baranchyk as a pretty epic mismatch. Yes, Baranchyk did look a little more measured and slightly less wild in his most recent win against Petr Petrov, but he is a technically poor fighter who relies on his physical strength. Mikey Garcia is one of the true elite technicians in the sport. I have no doubt that Garcia will absolutely pick Baranchyk apart come fight night. I see the Belorussian as having a puncher’s chance and no more.
There is no real speculated date for that fight as of yet, but Showtime will obviously broadcast given their relationship with both fighters and PBC.
