Danny Garcia vs Mikey Garcia being discussed for August

Mikey Garcia’s welterweight debut in March did not go well, as he was shut down and dominated by IBF titleholder Errol Spence Jr, but Mikey looks like he has his sights set on staying at 147, as Mike Coppinger reports that discussions are “advanced” to match him with former two-division titleholder Danny Garcia in August.

Mikey (39-1, 30 KO) has won titles at 126, 130, 135, and 140, and has big dreams of being a five-division titleholder, which is why he jumped up and fought Spence in March. The dreams became a nightmare on fight night, as it was made clear that Mikey was no welterweight, but he is nothing if not determined, and has said since officially vacating his WBC lightweight title recently that he wasn’t sure if he’d fight next at 140 or 147, but that he still wanted to win that fifth title.

A fight with Danny (35-2, 21 KO) wouldn’t bring a title, but it would give Mikey a chance to immediately show people that he can seriously fight at welterweight, and that he deserves another crack. Looking at it that way, I think you have to respect Mikey’s desire and ambition. He could easily go out there and fight someone well below the Danny Garcia level, even take a couple fights well below that level at 147, probably beat guys he’s simply better than, and then get another title shot at some point.

Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images

But fighting Danny Garcia is far from a gimme. Danny is legit at 147, he’s given Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter tough fights in defeat, won the WBC belt in 2016, and is coming off of a knockout win over Adrian Granados.

I like the fight, honestly, mostly because I can’t help but admire that Mikey Garcia is choosing the toughest available path to prove he can win at 147 pounds.

Now here’s the not-so-great part: it might be a FOX pay-per-view on Aug. 31 from Staples Center in Los Angeles. Spence-Garcia did solid numbers at 360K in March, but if Mikey is deemed to be the biggest part of that by bringing in the Mexican-American audience, you’re kind of asking a lot of that same loyal audience to again buy something after just seeing their dude get washed over 12 rounds.

It has not been reported yet if the hashtag will be #GarciaGarcia, #DannyMikey, or #MikeyDanny.