Ring of Fire: Mikey Garcia Has New Opponent, Liakhovich Welcomes Helenius, Fernando Guerrero Moving Down

Mikey Garcia Gets New Opponent

With scheduled foe Miguel Beltran Jr out with an injury, Mikey Garcia will now face Rafael Guzman on Saturday in the Zbik vs Chavez HBO co-feature. Guzman (28-2, 20 KO) has a nice-looking record, but has beaten nobody. The 25-year-old from Guadalajara isn't a terrible short notice opponent, and had been in training for a June 11 fight in Mexico, but most likely Garcia steamrolls him. It's just a different level on paper. Hopefully it's a good scrap if nothing else.

Fernando Guerrero Moving Down in Weight

When Fernando Guerrero headlines Friday Night Fights on June 17, he'll be facing veteran Grady Brewer at 154 pounds. As Dan Rafael says, if Guerrero can make that weight comfortably, it's a really good move. Guerrero (21-0, 16 KO) has been running as a 5'9" middleweight, which it seemed to many was due to hurt him in time. At 154, he'd be closer to average size for the division instead of just plain short.

Robert Helenius vs Sergei Liakhovich Done for July 16

Sergei Liakhovich's debut with Main Events will take place on July 16 in Munich against Robert Helenius. Here's what Liakhovich said in a press release:

"This is what being a true champion really is about," Liakhovich explained. "I believe you have to take risks to get greater results. Boxing is the best of all sports but its core is in earning respect as a fighter. I think you can accomplish that by taking risks. I had to do that in the past when I fought Dominick Quinn, who was America's top heavyweight hope at that time, and nobody gave me a chance when I went against Lamon Brewster. Both times taking risks paid off for me and this is not any different. My opponent is a good fighter. He proved that he deserves to be in the top 10 of the world by defeating Brewster and (Samuel) Peter. But he's never faced anybody with my skills.

"I was very disappointed I had to cancel my (April) fight, but I believe what happens is always for a reason, and sometimes things turn out the way you did not expect. I am glad I have this opportunity and I will take full advantage of it. I'm working again with trainer Kenny Weldon, who was in my corner when I won the WBO title, and doing things that I had stopped. We've also been working on a few new things to prepare for this fight. I think it's going to be a very good fight with two guys putting everything on the line."

Liakhovich (25-3, 16 KO) has been largely inactive since dropping his WBO title to Shannon Briggs in 2006. The 35-year-old Belarussian has fought just three times since then, losing to Nikolai Valuev (2008) and beating Jeremy Bates (2009) and Evans Quinn (2010). He was supposedly in talks to fight Vitali Klitschko in July, but that didn't materialize, as many of his talks have not. Helenius (15-0, 10 KO) is starting to make a move in the heavyweight division, but I do caution to not get too excited over the Samuel Peter knockout. Helenius wasn't exactly looking great prior to the stoppage, but he dug down and knocked out a pretty tough guy, so I'm also not saying to not give him any credit.