Final press conference: Errol Spence Jr. vs. Mikey Garcia

Current IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence, Jr. and challenger Mikey Garcia met one last time before squaring off in the ring this Saturday night. Both Spence and Garcia got their last bit of “trash talking” in at AT&T Stadium [home of the Dallas Cowboys] in Arlington, Texas.

This highly anticipated match up showcases a clash of champions in which Spence, 24-0, (21) puts his title on the line against the undefeated Garcia, 39-0, (30). Garcia’s career highlights include capturing world titles in four different weight classes [126, 130, 135, and 140].

Garcia last saw action in July of 2018, when he battled Robert Easter in a lightweight bout. Although Garcia has fought at 140 pounds before, technically Garcia is moving up two weight classes.In boxing, size does matter, which is why there is a thing commonly known as “weight class."

Spence is correctly favored in the fight; however, Garcia seeking to become a champion in a fifth division is quite remarkable.

“Getting this victory will forever leave my name in the history books,” said Garcia, a native of Oxnard, California. “No other fighter is daring to do what I’m doing.”

Spence was asked by a reporter if Garcia is the toughest opponent he will face to date.

He replied, “On paper, he is.” Continuing, “I don’t know if he’s the toughest opponent until we get in the ring, you gotta ask me after that.”

In the build up to the bout, both fighters were cool and collected. Spence and Garcia displayed a great deal of respect for each other. The temperature slightly rose a little bit when Spence became agitated when Garcia compared him to past opponents.

“I’m not your other opponents,” said Spence of nearby Desoto, Texas. “Stop talking about your other opponents like I am one of them.”

Garcia’s comment that bothered Spence was,

“On Saturday night, he’s gonna find out why I choose to fight him and why I picked this fight. Like all my other opponents, they don’t see anything flashy, they don’t see anything special, but when they get inside that ring they realize that I am special in a different way.”

Garcia then replied to Spence’s demand by telling him,

“But you will be another opponent on Saturday night.”

In turn Spence replied, “We’ll see”

Garcia then responded, “Yeah, we will.”

Spence then said, “Keep that same energy. Keep that same energy you’ve been having.”

Garcia then said, “We’re gonna find out.”

And that ladies and gentlemen is the most that you are going to get out of either guy outside of the ring. But in the ring, Spence-Garcia is as intriguing as it gets. This is the type of contest that teaches us about both men. For example, does Garcia have sufficient pop at 147 to make Spence respect him? Can Spence outbox Garcia?

And lastly can Garcia withstand the pressure and power of Spence? Because if Garcia can, then that would mean that he has really been a welterweight in the body of a 135 pound fighter all this time.

I am picking Spence to win a unanimous decision by scores of 116-112. I feel that Garcia is too intelligent to get knocked out. And although he loses, he will surprise most observers by doing much better than expected in the contest.

I am expecting Spence to lean on Garcia and physically rough him up in close quarters. If I were Derrick James [Spence’s trainer] I would advise Spence to go after Garcia’s nose, which was fractured in the fight with Orlando Salido six years ago.

Both Spence and Garcia collide in the same venue as previously mentioned up top. The fight will be televised as a Premier Boxing Champions on FOX Sports Pay-Per-View event, for the price of $75 dollars.