Sandor Martin scores huge upset win over Mikey Garcia

Saturday afternoon, and evening, in Fresno, California, it was former (multiple) world champion Mikey Garcia, 40-1-0, 30 KO’s), in action for the first time in 2021, and for only the 3rd time in the last 2 1/2 years, facing Spanish challenger Sandor Martin (38-2, 13 KO’s) in a 10-round, non-title affair. The two were locking horns at Chukchansi Park in Fresno, California.

Garcia, who has captured multiple world titles from 126 pounds all the way to 147 pounds, was in what most would consider a ‘stay busy’ fight against Martin. While Martin comes in as a European Boxing Union (EBU) champion and sporting a strong ledger at 38-2 (13 KO’s), it doesn’t hold a candle to the vastly more experienced Garcia who entered the ring at 40-1 and a resume that boasts bouts with Jesse Vargas, Errol Spence, Adrien Broner, Orlando Salido, Sergey Lipinets and others. In the experience department, it was no contest between the two.

However, a fight on paper and a fight in the ring are often two different tales.

In the main event, a surging and consistent Sandor Martin got the better of a less busy and less committed (perhaps unmotivated?) Mikey Garcia in what can be accurately described as a huge upset. Credit where credit is due - Martin was sharp and effective all night and Garcia plain and simply didn’t get going and deliver enough to get the win.

Martin was busy and effective all night while Garcia seemed to be looking to land the right hand all evening, to no avail. Once Martin had the jab-right series from Garcia figured out, he seemed to be able to slip it throughout the bout. With little body work from Garcia, and Mikey seemingly unable to land any other significant shots, Martin was able to score while staying out of harms way himself.

Martin scores the biggest win of his career and walks away with a MD with scores of 95-95 and 97-93 x 2. Martin has probably put himself in line for a big fight and Garcia simply needs to be more active to stay sharp.

Under card results

Light flyweight Jesse Rodriguez KO 4 Jose Alejandro Burgos

Featherweight Brock Jarvis TKO 5 Alejandro Frias

Super middleweight Diego Pacheco TKO 8 Lucas de Abreu

Middleweight Nikita Ababiy UD 8 Sanny Duversonne

Lightweight Charlie Sheehy TKO 4 Luciano Ramos

Super lightweight Oscar Alan Perez W4 Raymundo Rios