The mooted fight between Mikey Garcia 40-2 (30) and Regis Prograis 26-1 (22) has been poleaxed after Garcia dropped a 10-round points decision to little-knock Spanish southpaw Sandor Martin 39-2 (13) at Chukchansi Park in Fresno, California on Saturday night.
Martin boxed brilliantly to control most of the rounds against a sluggish-looking Garcia who was unable mount much meaningful offence.
In the end the bout was ruled a majority decision with scores of 97-93, 97-93 and 95-95 but it was a clear-cut victory for the underdog.
Former four-weight world champion Garcia had been hoping to face former WBA junior welterweight champion Prograis next.
“Mikey not going to fight me. That’s not happening anymore,” Prograis posted to Twitter.
Eddie Hearn, who promoted Garcia-Martin, said he was shocked at the loss.
“I can’t believe it. And I knew Sandor Martin could fight,” the Matchroom Boxing boss said to iFL TV.
“I thought Mikey looked lacklustre. He didn’t look sharp and I thought Sandor Martin boxed brilliantly.
“I’m happy in a way that they gave him the fight because he won the fight, let’s be honest.
“If they wouldn’t have given him the fight, it wouldn’t have been fair.
“So it’s just a massive win for Spanish boxing. It’s huge. It’s the biggest win ever for Spain, and I just can’t believe it. And it’s a total shock here. Tonight was an amazing crowd, a terrific atmosphere, all for Mikey and he got beat.
“It’s a huge upset. No rematch clause, no title on the line. It’s just a non-title fight. I don’t know.
“Sandor Martin is sitting there now saying, ‘Give me the big fights,’ you know? He’s in an unbelievable position. Our Matchroom Spain fighter, it’s such a huge win for him and Spanish boxing. It’s unbelievable, massive.”
Martin boxed the ears off Garcia, using deft footwork and angles to control the distance and nullifying the short-priced betting favourite’s offence.
It was Garcia’s first fight since outpointing Jessie Vargas in February last year and his third bout at welterweight.
Hearn thinks the lengthy layoff played a role in the result.
“It’s always a danger,” Hearn said. “[Garcia] wanted to fight and he needed to fight because he’s been out for 19 or 20 months.
“You’ve got to be more professional to say that I can’t get up for a keep busy fight. You haven’t got a fight, so you need to fight.
“That should be a fight that he goes into as a massive favorite, which he was and win the fight and he lost. I mean, it’s a huge upset.”
Garcia has won world titles from featherweight to junior welterweight. He was on the wrong end of a 12-round drubbing at the hands of current WBC and IBF 147-pound champion Errol Spence Jr in his welterweight debut in March 2019.
Martin, a natural 140-pounder, moved up for the 145-pound catchweight bout but looked better suited to the division.
If Garcia wants to continue boxing, a move back down in weight must be considered.
