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Tonight at 10 pm ET on Showtime, Mikey Garcia faces Robert Easter Jr in a lightweight unification bout in the main event of a tripleheader from Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Garcia (38-0, 30 KO) holds the WBC title, while Easter (21-0, 14 KO) has the IBF belt at 135 pounds. It’s a potentially very interesting style clash on paper, with Easter having some big physical advantages but Garcia the better boxer, a pound-for-pound contender and the clear favorite in this fight.
In the co-feature, heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz (28-1, 24 KO) looks to rebound from his March slugfest loss to Deontay Wilder with a fight against Razvan Cojanu (16-3, 9 KO), who hasn’t fought since a 2017 defeat against Joseph Parker.
The opener will be a junior welterweight bout between Mario Barrios (21-0, 13 KO) and Jose Roman (24-2-1, 16 KO).
Wil Esco will be on the round-by-round call tonight. Join us!
RESULTS
- MIKEY GARCIA def. ROBERT EASTER JR. by UD (116-111, 117-110, 118-109)
- LUIS ORTIZ def. RAZVAN COJANU by TKO (2:08 of Round 2)
- MARIO BARRIOS def JOSE ROMAN by TKO (End of Round 8)
ROUND BY ROUND
MIKEY GARCIA vs ROBERT EASTER JR.
Round 1: Easter comes out with a jab to the body and then starts pumping the jab at range — a good sign for Easter early. Easter lands a right hand over a hook. Easter has gotten off to a good start and is controlling the fight at range. Now Garcia lands a well timed jab that kncoks Easter back. Another well timed jab comes from Garcia. Garcia is landing his jab pretty well early. Garcia tries a big right hand that misses but the crowd gets excited. I think Garcia came on in the second half of the round but I think Easter edged it overall. Easter 10-9.
Round 2: Easter reaches on a jab to the body that galls short. Garcia is pressing forward and has Easter moving backwards and Garcia scrapes Easter with a right hand. Easter lands a straight right hand to the body. Lead left hook cuffs Garcia’s head. Hard jab snaps Garcia’s head back. Another right hand to the body comes from Easter, followed by a jab to the body. Garcia tries to strafe Easter along the ropes but can’t land anything clean. Another jab lands from Easter at distance just before the bell. He’s sticking to his game plan well. Easter 10-9, 20-18.
Round 3: Easter jumps out at Garcia with a three punch combination. Easter jabbing to the body and then flashing it back upstairs, keeping Garcia on the outside. Hard jab lands clean for Easter. Garcia lands a left hand after the right hand misses but can’t really follow up. Easter gets the fight back to center ring and flashes his range with a jab. Easter tries to double a left hook to the body and head but it doesn’t land all that clean. Garcia tries to fight once he gets Easter on the ropes but can’t get his range. Now Garcia lands a solid left hook that puts Easter down! Garcia tries to follow up after Easter gets up but the bell rings! Garcia 10-8.
Round 4: Easter tries to reestablish his range by throwing jabs to the head and body. Garcia staying patient and using feints to close the distance so he can get off his power punches. Right hook lands for Garcia right behind Easter’s jab. Now a hard jab lands for Garcia. This fight is now being fought at a closer distance which is giving Garcia more opportunities. Garcia lands a left and it gets Easter to the ropes and Easter covers up as Garcia partially lands a left hook upstairs. Garcia 10-9, 38-37.
Round 5: Easter tries a straight right to the body that just falls short. Garcia lands a jab. Easter throws a jab to the body and then both fighters trade shots. Garcia is looking really comfortable in there and Easter may have a little doubt. Easter misses on an uppercut and now Garcia partially lands his in return. Uppercut from Garcia lands better this time. Easter lands a left hook and then pumps three jabs in succession. Close round but it just feels to me that Garcia is in control more. Garcia 10-9.
Round 6: Easter comes out behind the jab again to start the round, trying to establish his punching distance. Jab to the body lands for Easter. Easter tries an overhand right lead but Garcia is able to pull off of it. Garcia marches forward and tries to counter Easter’s jab with a left hook. Easter lands a jab and is having better success keeping a comfortable distance in this round. Now Garcia smothers Easter on the inside and lets go a flurry. That probably takes the round for Garcia. Garcia 10-9, 58-55.
Round 7: Easter lands a jab to the body and then tries to follow up with something upstairs but can’t find the mark. Easter lands another jab to the body and has Garcia moving laterally along the ropes. Easter lands a right hand to the body. Easter continues to land a long left to the body and then moves off before Garcia can get anything back. Right hand lands for Garcia and Easter comes back with a jab and right hand to the body. Own-two lands for Garcia but I don’t think it’s enough for Garcia in this one. Easter 10-9.
Round 8: Easter tries a jab and the a right hand lead. Now Easter jabs to the body again from distance. Easter lands a jab to counter Garcia’s forward momentum and then walks off to his left. Garcia misses on a big right hook and Easter moves along the ropes out of danger. Easter moving to both sides and then lands a jab and moves off again. Garcia trying to cut off the ring on Easter. Easter avoided Garcia’s big shots in this round but didn’t land a whole lot of his own. I still think Easter edges the round. Easter 10-9, 75-76.
Round 9: Garcia is still pressing forward on Easter and gets him on the ropes and throws some punches that don’t land so clean. The fighters exchange shots and both fighter s land some good shots. Now we’re having a year up and Easter and Garcia are going toe-to-toe and Easter is actually landing some good shots on the inside! Garcia tries to retaliate and gets in a couple right hands. Right hand knocks Easter back for a moment! A strong jab from Garcia pierces Easter’s guard and Garcia gets in a nother couple shots to end the round. Garcia 10-9.
Round 10: Easter may be tiring a little but tries to get the fight back on the outside with his jab. Garcia is feeling confident and is walking forward and keeping Easter under duress. Garcia lands a three punch combination once Easter’s back touches the ropes. Easter is throwing less and less and Garcia is starting to come on, finding his groove. Garcia touches Easter with more punches along the ropes and Easter can only cover up while taking punishment. Right hand lead lands for Garcia and Easter is bleeding from the mouth. Garcia 10-9, 96-93.
Round 11: Easter lands two jabs to the body to start the round. Garcia feints, probes, and measures as he looks to find his way back into punching range. Both fighters trade jabs and Easter tries to get in another one as he pivots to his left. One-one-two lands for Garcia, followed by a left hook as Easter puts his earmuffs on. Now Garcia lands a right hook to the body followed by a left hand upstairs. Two more hard shots land for Garcia! Easter is still game but he looks like a beaten man. Garcia 10-9.
Round 12: Garcia lands the jab this time as he tries to maintain his center ring position and back Easter up. Right hand partially lands for Garcia after a jab. Easter still fighting off hi s back foot and he needs to do something bid to turn this fight around. Big overhand right from Garcia rattles Easter! Easter tries to respond with something of his own but he’s more worn at this point than Garcia. Garcia attacks Easter along the ropes and Easter ties up. Two left hands land for Garcia with Easter backed up and the crowd cheers. Garcia 10-9. I’ve got it scored for Garcia 116-111.
LUIS ORTIZ vs RAZVAN COJANU
Round 1: Ortiz comes out looking like he wants to make a an early statement. Ortiz lands a left hand to the body. Ortiz lands two right hooks as Cojanu just covers up and tries to feel out Ortiz’s power. Ortiz lands a right hook to the body which isn’t a punch you see many heavyweights lead with. Cojanu isn’t going to assert himself in this round and takes a left to the body as he stands and watches. Ortiz 10-9.
Round 2: Ortiz tries a one-one-two right out the gate but falls just short. Cojanu is standing back and just content to try and take this fight into deep waters if he can survive the early rounds. Cojanu taunts Ortiz after blocking two Ortiz’ shorts but he’s not really throwing anything himself. Ortiz goes back to the body with a left hand since Cojanu steps back with every step he takes forward. Now Ortiz lands a monster straight left hand after a right hook that puts Cojanu down! Cojanu is flopping all over the canvas as he tries to get himself up. It’s over! Ortiz TKO-2.
MARIO BARRIOS vs JOSE ROMAN
Round 1: Roman comes out and throws a few jabs, trying to find his range early. Barrios is taking his time and trying to get Roman’s measure. Barrios starts coming forward, feints, and gets in a couple of body shots in a short combination. Roman fighting off the back foot and takes a shot to the left and right side of his body from some Barrios hooks. Roman gets in a left hook and Barrios touches Roman back, but Barrios has a small cut over his left eye. Counter left hook lands for Barrios and Roman lands a left hook upstairs shortly before the bell. I favor Barrios in this round. Barrios 10-9.
Round 2: Barrios stalks forward and lands a stiff jab. Now Barrios lands two left hands to the body. Roman lands a left hand as Barrios tries to load up on a shot, he’s going to need to be a little more sneaky. Roman content to sit back and throw counter shots as Barrios comes in and he’s have some success with the tactics, but he’s allowing Barrios to get a lot of momentum and dictate the pace. One-two lands for Roman. Now they exchange and both land punches. Close round and depends on what you like, but I think Barrios still edges it slightly. Barrios 10-9, 20-18.
Round 3: Roman starts with a couple jabs now and then lands a hook. Barrios partially lands what would’ve been a big uppercut but still looks to come forward, landing a hard left to the body. Counter hook lands for Barrios as Roman looks to lead for a change. Left hook lands upstairs for Barrios. Roman seems to have felt Barrios’ power and is fighting real conservative. Barrios 10-9.
Round 4: Barrios tries to jabs to the body that fall short. Roman tries to throw a couple uppercuts that Barrios is able to partially block. Two hard uppercuts to the body now land for Barrios, followed by a big right hand that staggers Roman badly! Barrios goes on the attack and Roman goes down! Roman beats the count but he still might be hurt. Barrios is looking to close the show and lands a hard body shot, then looks to go upstairs but can’t find a clean target. Roman is backing up from ropes to rope, corner to corner, is going to let Roman get out of this round. Barrios 10-8, 40-35.
Round 5: Roman’s corner tells him that he has to start getting aggressive if he wants to win this fight. Roman still backing up and looking to defend himself more than anything. Roman tries to land a left hook to the body but Barrios comes forward and lands two punches of his own. Hook-right hand combination lands again for Barrios. Hard straight right tot the body now lands for Barrios. Roman is in survival mode which doesn’t make for a great fight. Barrios 10-9.
Round 6: Barrios presses forward, looking to get Roman back to the ropes where he can get some combinations off. Barrios tries a three punch combination that partially lands. Two punches lands for Barrios and snaps Roman’s head around. More body shots come from Barrios as Roman just covers up. Roman tries to tie up Barrios but Barrios just hammers away at the body with both hands. Barrios 10-9, 60-53.
Round 7: Barrios tags Roman with a few long jabs. Roman tries to press forward a little more and a couple of lefts hooks glance off Roman’s gloves. Hook and more jabs land for Barrios. Two left hooks to the body lands for Roman, followed by a right hook. Barrios goes on an assault and hammers Roman with a few more hard shots. Now Roman finds an escape along the ropes and is going to be able to survive this round too. Barrios 10-9.
Round 8: Barrios goes on a quick attack as he gets Roman to back up and then tries a few left hands. Several body shots lands in succession for Roman. Barrios goes on another attack and Roman crumbles to the canvas. This fight should be stopped but the referee just gives him a count and we’ll continue. More hard shots land for Barrios and Roman has nothing left to offer. Left hook lands for Barrios and he has Roman back on the ropes again but can’t finish Roman off. Barrios 10-8.
Roman’s corner throws in the towel in between rounds.