Mikey Garcia needed a big win to rejuvenate his boxing career, and he got it by defeating Jessie Vargas by unanimous decision. Here’s how Twitter reacted.
When Mikey Garcia (40-1, 30 KOs) moved up to welterweight in 2019 against Errol Spence Jr., he looked out of place. He decided to give the division a second shot on Saturday, Feb. 29, on DAZN, against veteran Jessie Vargas (29-3-2, 11 KOs). Garcia looked like the real deal in his second attempt as a welterweight.
Vargas isn’t Spence, but he’s still a legitimate threat in several divisions. He towered over the smaller Garcia, but that didn’t matter. Garcia used his superior boxing skills to beat up Vargas over 12 rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory.
Garcia dropped Vargas in round 5 and had him in dire straits. Somehow, Vargas found a way to survive the round and stay on his feet through the final round. Vargas was hurt several times over the course of the fight but showed a lot of heart in the process.
Garcia earned his respect as a welterweight and looks like he can have an impact on the division. Here’s how Twitter reacted to Garcias’ win over Vargas.
If Mikey wants to stay at 147 and fight the best, maybe he should fight Terrence Crawford. #boxing #GarciaVargas
— Raging Babe (@RagingBabe) March 1, 2020
Here’s the question: Should Mikey Garcia stay at 147 or go down to 140 where the winner of Regis Prograis-Mo Hooker awaits? Or, a possible showdown with Manny Pacquiao at a catchweight (142?)
— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) March 1, 2020
https://twitter.com/BecauseBoxing/status/1233984259347681280
Really good fight! Congratulations @mikeygarcia. That timing and IQ are next level. #GarciaVargas #boxing
— Caryn A. Tate (@carynatate) March 1, 2020
Great show tonight.
— Dave Coldwell (@davidcoldwell) March 1, 2020
Really glad I stayed up for it! #GarciaVargas #YafaiChocolatito #MartinezHarris
https://twitter.com/boxingmma365/status/1233985473862828032
Mikey eeks out a competitive, yet clear, workmanlike points victory over Vargas. Appeared to let his opponent off the hook when he had him hurt.
— Michael “Stacking” Montero (@MonteroOnBoxing) March 1, 2020
Is this enough to warrant a fight with Pacquiao?
I don't believe so, but the business of boxing will have its way.#GarciaVargas pic.twitter.com/RcEp0lwIhO
Scores: 114-113, 116-111 and 116-111 for Mikey Garcia. #GarciaVargas
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) March 1, 2020
Vargas has gone from fringe contender to gate keeper.
— Roberto José Andrade Franco (@R_AndradeFranco) March 1, 2020
Still dont know what Garcia is at welter, besides better than Vargas.
I have it 117-110 Garcia, but I can see it being as close as 115-112... #boxing
— Steve Kim (@SteveKim323) March 1, 2020
It looks like Garcia has grown into the welterweight division. He impressed a lot of people with his performance against Vargas. Vargas is a top-10 welterweight, but he’s not Spence or Manny Pacquiao. There are many options for Garcia. He could still move down a division.
Garcia’s big night might leave more questions than answers. He’s good enough to dominate Vargas but already failed against the division’s best once. Terence Crawford is another option, but Garcia would be a solid underdog in that matchup as well.
Unless Garcia gets a big name bout at welterweight, then it might be back down to junior welterweight. Garcia’s future is bright yet unpredictable at the moment.