Oxnard boxing champion Mikey Garcia loses belt on scale
Unbeaten Oxnard boxer Mikey Garcia surrendered his 126-pound world title on the scale Friday, failing to make weight for his Saturday night bout against Puerto Rico’s Juan Manual Lopez at American Airlines Arena in Dallas.
Garcia (31-0, 26 knockouts) weighed in at 128 pounds and reported being dehydrated and constipated, unable to shed any more pounds. So Lopez (33-2, 30 KOs) can win the featherweight belt with a victory, but Garcia cannot.
Fight promoter Bob Arum said Lopez agreed to fight after receiving a payment “in excess of six figures” from Garcia, 25, who won the belt by technical decision over Orlando Salido in January.
“The whole situation is disappointing, but I’m not disappointed in the kid, who did everything he normally does to make weight,” Arum said. “He’s finished at 126.
“It’s not like he was out drinking last night or eating a big steak. His body is just telling him he can’t make the weight anymore. Garcia’s a nice, responsible boy.”
Arum said he plans to let Garcia get a title shot at World Boxing Organization super-featherweight (130-pound) champion Roman “Rocky” Martinez later this year.
Meanwhile, Lopez is looking to resurrect a career damaged by two knockout losses to Salido.
“He looks great and is very confident,” Arum said of Lopez. “This is no walk in the park for Garcia. It’s a tough, grueling fight.”
HBO will televise the bout.
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