Mikey Garcia defeats Sergey Lipinets in entertaining fight

Sub Lead11-Mar-18by John J. Raspanti

By Anthony "Zute" George

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Mikey Garcia won a clear, hard-fought, unanimous decisions over Sergey Lipinets over 12 rounds at the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas, Saturday Night. The judges’ scorecards read 116-111, and 117-110 twice in favor of Garcia.

With this victory, Garcia captures the IBF Jr. welterweight championship, his fourth world title in a different weight class. When asked about becoming a four-division champion, Garcia said it was, “A chapter in boxing that boxing fans will remember.”

Garcia also gave high praise to Lipinets, calling him “very dangerous.” Garcia’s strategy during the fight was in keeping with his respect for Lipinets, as he fought with a high guard and was patient with his offense.

Lipinets was finding a way through Garcia’s high guard with stiff jabs early in the fight, jabs that blooded Garcia’s nose. Lipinets also did well investing in the body, landing hard jabs and right hooks to Garcia’s mid-section.

But Garcia’s boxing prowess, in particular his ability to always be in a great position to land shots and counter, was more telling throughout the fight. Garcia’s right hands did much more damage than anything Lipinets landed in the early rounds.

In the middle rounds, Lipinets saw more success landing hard right hands and left hooks, and it looked as if Lipinets might be gaining some momentum. That all came to an end in round seven, when an exchange of left hooks resulted in Lipinets getting knocked down for the first time in his professional career.

This exchange told the story of the fight, while Lipinets landed, Garcia landed with a much harder, damaging shot. To his credit, Lipinets got up and continued to try and execute his game plan of going to Garcia’s body and land with hard shots upstairs.

Lipinets did manage to win a round or two after the seventh, but this was Garica’s night. Garcia also finished almost every round landing hard right hands on his opponent to help get the attention of the judges. A caveat he did not really need.

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After the bout, Lipinets cited a lack of experience as a major reason for his defeat. You did not have to be that experienced of a spectator to identify Garcia as the more experienced pugilist in this very entertaining boxing match.

Garcia rolled out a long agenda after the fight - saying he wants to unify both the 135 and 140-pound divisions.

“Two or three more fights you gonna see me at welterweight for sure,” said Garcia.

With no shortage of talented champions from lightweight to welterweight, any path Garcia takes next will be a win for boxing fans.

As for Lipinets, he accentuates that old boxing cliché, he gained more respect in his first loss than all his wins combined. Indeed, that is what Lipinets accomplished in this fight.

With the victory, Garcia improves to 38-0, 30 KO’s, while Lipinets falls to 13-1, 10 KO’s.

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