In this video interview with Fight Hub TV, trainer Robert Garcia gives his assessment on the big upcoming fight between Vasyl Lomachenko and Jorge Linares, while also discussing what’s next for Mikey Garcia. Check it out...
On Linares-Lomachenko:
“That’s a helluva fight. You know, a lot of people don’t give Linares a chance. Linares has great skills, Linares has the height, I believe maybe the reach advantage. He’s fast. I think Linares has a great shot. I pick Lomachenko to win but I don’t think it’s gonna be easy.
“Lomachenko has never fought a guy as big or as talented as Linares...Lomachenko has looked great against guys like Rigondeaux, who’s a 122-pounder. You know, who else? Featherweights that have moved up in weight, he’s been able to dominate and play with them. But I don’t think he’s gonna be able to do that with Linares.
“Linares is a helluva fighter, very talented, I think it’s gonna be a great fight. I pick Lomachenko, but due to the fact that Linares has been in tough fights before where he gets cut or something, and then for some reason he just loses it, but if that doesn’t happen I give Linares a great shot. But I still pick Lomachenko but I would be surprised if Linares pulls it off.”
On what’s next for his brother Mikey Garcia now that he didn’t get the fight with Linares:
“You know, that sucked because that’s what we thought was gonna happen. After Mikey’s fight we were thinking that fight was coming next. But Linares decided to go fight Lomachenko first — I don’t blame him, it’s a huge fight and he got a great shot too.
“So right now there’s other options with Mikey. He’s champion at 140, he’s champion at 135, so we can decide and see what’s best out there for him.
“He either has to defend the WBC at 135 or the IBF at 140...I believe [he’ll be forced to drop one of the belts]. I haven’t talked to Mikey about it, it depends on which fight makes more sense for him and that’s what he’s gonna do. Me, personally, I’d rather have him at 135...due to the big fights, the winner of Lomachenko-Linares, you know, Rey Beltran, Robert Easter Jr. — I think 135 makes more sense.”