By Dan Ambrose: According to Showtime, Mikey Garcia (37-0, 30 KOs) will be fighting in February against possibly one of these fighters:
• Omar Figueroa Jr. – This is a former WBC lightweight champion, who has seen his career stall out after suffering and injury and having his championship status chanced to WBC Champion in Recess. Figueroa is still unbeaten, but he’s not been fighting the best
• Robert Easter Jr. – This would be an excellent choice for Mikey. Easter Jr. is one of the best fighters in the lightweight division. The downside of Mikey fighting Easter is the risk involved. Easter is someone that could potentially beat Mikey
• Sergei Lipinets – this is another risky fight for Mikey. Lipinets can punch and he’s plenty tough. Mikey would have to move up to 140 to take that fight. Unlike Broner, Lipinets isn’t over-the-hill, and he doesn’t have problems making weight.
Of those 3 names, Easter Jr. (20-0, 14 Kos) and IBF light welterweight champion Sergei Lipinets (13-0, 10 KOs) would be the ideal choices for Mikey to take in order to entertain the boxing public. Figueroa (27-0-1, 19 KOs) hasn’t done enough with his career lately for him to be a good choice. Figueroa Jr. recently beat Robert Guerrero last July in stopping him in round 3 at welterweight, but before that, he’d been out of the ring for a long time.
Mikey, 29, last fought on July 29 in beating former 4 division world champion Adrien ‘The Problem’ Broner by a 12 round decision on Showtime. Golden Boy Promotions was hoping to setup a fight between Mikey and their fighter WBA World lightweight champion Jorge Linares. Mikey decided not to take the fight. He’s now looking getting back in the ring in early 2018 in February.
Mikey has failed to capitalize on his win over Broner. Mikey should have already scheduled a fight against the likes of Linares or Miguel Cotto. Mikey had the chance to fight Cotto for his farewell fight last Saturday night, but he didn’t take it. In hindsight, it was a wasted opportunity for Mikey. He should have taken the fight and retired Cotto, and gained a lot of popularity in the process.
If Mikey stays at lightweight, he can eventually fight Vasyl Lomachenko in 2018. Lomachenko is supposed to be moving up in weight next year after his fight with Guillermo Rigondeaux this Saturday night.
Mikey is a good fighter, but he needs to stay active and fight the best. Right now, it doesn’t look like Mikey is getting the most out of his career.