"He puts a lot of pressure on and he walks his opponents down and punishes them, so that makes for a very dangerous fighter. He's undefeated, he's a southpaw, and he's in his prime, so I'm sure he's very motivated. I can't over look him or take him lightly. He's the real deal...the world is going to see that I am one of the best fighters of this generation...I want to start 2017 with a bang. This is the first one. I get this title on the 28th and then I want to stay active and fight 2 or 3 more times if possible," stated undefeated former world champion Mikey Garcia, who spoke in-depth about his upcoming title clash with Dejan Zlaticanin. Check it out!
PC: The fight is right around the corner. You're facing Dejan Zlaticanin for the WBC lightweight title. How do you feel?
MG: I feel really good. I'm happy and training has been been going well. I'm getting good sparring. I'm very motivated for this fight.
PC: Zlaticanin is undefeated, like yourself, and this isn't an inflated record. He's fought Ricky Burns, Ivan Redkach, and Petr Petrov. What do you see in him when you watch his fights?
MG: I've seen a little bit of film. He's got talent, he's very strong and dangerous. He carries a lot of power in his punches. He likes to put a lot of pressure and he's very good at it. That's his strong point is that he puts a lot of pressure on and he walks his opponents down and punishes them, so that makes for a very dangerous fighter. He's undefeated, he's a southpaw, and he's in his prime, so I'm sure he's very motivated. I can't over look him or take him lightly. He's the real deal.
PC: When you're describing his style, it's like you're describing what people consider the typical Mexican fighting style. You don't fit that bill. You're known as a guy that can do it all. You don't have that stereotype that you're the typical Mexican that can come in and bang for 12 rounds. I'm sure you accept that and it's not an insult at all.
MG: It's not offensive at all to me. The way that I fight, they can see and recognize. If I look back at my favorite Mexican fighters, I have Ricardo "Finito" Lopez number one, Juan Manuel Marquez number two, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales after that, and these guys brawled when they had to, but they were very technical, very defensive counter punchers. That's kind of what I do. I stay on game plan boxing and counter punching and use my skills. But if I have to brawl, I will brawl. If I have to put pressure on my opponents, I can put pressure on my opponents.
PC: He's only fought once in 2015 and once in 2016. I know that had no bearings on your accepting this fight, but is it beneficial given your time away?
MG: I didn't even know that he only had one fight in '15 and '16. I don't pay attention to anything like that. I didn't realize that.
PC: The WBC title is coveted by many fighters. A lot of guys want that green belt. Does it mean that to you or is that just the prize at the end of this mission?
MG: It's just another belt for me. I know a lot of people see it different than other belts or they hold it in higher regard than the other titles, but to me, it's just another fight. It's not about the belt itself. I mean, it's great and it goes down in history and a lot of the greats have held that title, but to me, it's just another fight that I have to get through.
PC: This hasn't been an easy journey for you, but through it all, I have never seen you conduct a negative interview or come off bitter. How have you been able to stay in the gym, in good spirits, and focused through all of the turmoil?
MG: That's because I know and believe that my time is coming. I will be able to show the world what I can do in the ring. I might have had some setbacks due to the politics in boxing and the business side of things, but I knew my time would come. I knew I would get back to where I was and accomplish the things that I wanted to accomplish and the world is going to see that I am one of the best fighters of this generation.
PC: I'm not sure if you have fought many southpaws or what your track record against them is. Obviously if you have fought any, you won the fight, but what is your track record against them?
MG: I've fought a few southpaws in my career, but he's probably the one that is the most aggressive and the strongest. He has great power and applies great pressure and that probably gives him an edge over the other southpaws I have faced and it definitely makes him a little more dangerous than my previous opponents that I have faced that were southpaws. I gotta prepare for the best and come up with a great game plan to be able to become a world champion on the 28th of January.
PC: Your phone reception is sketchy and you said it's because you are way up in the mountains. I'm sure you're putting in great work. How has the work been up there?
MG: It's great! It's a great camp; great atmosphere. I got my nephew, Robert Jr., is staying up here. I got my friend here handling my cooking and I have a friend from high school who stayed out here for the last couple of weeks now who is my compadre and he recently this summer baptized my youngest son. He stays out here with me just to help with anything and assist in any way and kind of line up camp and make camp enjoyable. And then we go to my brothers gym in Riverside where we do my sparring and training with my dad and my brother. We all have a great time and it's a great atmosphere, so that makes for a great camp. You feel comfortable, you feel great, and I'm very excited.
PC: It's funny you say that because I remember being in Bernard Hopkins' camp and he had a guy there and he told me the guy was only there to break the monotony and make him laugh. I think we have this perception that you guys want to be secluded, straight face, and angry during camp when in all actuality, most fighters want somewhat of a normal life when in camp.
MG: It's very important to have that because if you're not enjoying what you're doing, then you're not doing it to the best of your capability. You're going to be bored and tired. You need to be able to enjoy what you do. Having my friend, Rafa, here helps because time and camp flies. It's great because it's not like work. It's not like a job. It's part of the routine, but it makes for a much better atmosphere to be productive, train hard, and look forward to training and look forward to sparring. It makes for a great atmosphere and having a guy like my buddy here helps because if not, you'll get homesick and bored and tired. You'll actually get into a frustrated state where you don't want to be here anymore and you definitely don't want that.
PC: Anytime a fighter takes a substantial amount of time away from the ring, spectators always expect some rust. You surprised a lot of people in the Rojas fight because you showed little to no rust. They say the gym is so different from the fight, but you made it look like staying in the gym could definitely counteract ring rust.
MG: I was always sparring, training, and working out. Even though I was out of the ring for 2 1/2 years, it only felt like a 6 to 9-month layoff for me because I was always in the gym. I came back to see how it would affect me and it didn't affect me in any way. I made my return in July and I took care of business. I started off patiently the first round or two, like I usually do, and once I found the right distance and range and speed that worked for me, I took care of business.
PC: How do you not let his aggression steal rounds and be the thing that sticks out in the judges mind?
MG: I visualize the fight in every possible scenario and every time I do it, I find a way to win. I'm going to be ready to do whatever it takes to win. If that means boxing for 12 rounds, I'll box for 12 rounds. If that means staying in the pocket for 12 rounds, then I'll stay in the pocket for 12 rounds. If that means I gotta put pressure and back him up in the corner or take him to the ropes, then I'm ready to do that also. That's what training is for. That's what camp is for, to be prepared for whatever we need to do inside of the ring to be able to win that title.
PC: This is a great time in the year and in your career to make a statement. What kind of a statement are you looking to make on the 28th?
MG: I want to make a huge statement to start 2017. 2013 was a very good year for me. I won my first title, defeating Salido in January, and I won my second title in November, defeating Rocky Martinez. I want to start 2017 with a bang. This is the first one. I get this title on the 28th and then I want to stay active and fight 2 or 3 more times if possible. I want to fight other champions and unify titles or move up a weight class to 140 pounds if the opportunity is right and my body is right and getting another title there. So I want to make 2017 a memorable year.
PC: I was actually going to ask you about activity and moving up. It has to be a goal to be busy this year as well as unify and possibly move up in weight?
MG: I would love to take on other champions in the lightweight division to unify. Two names that stand out most is Flanagan. I really want that WBO title. I had that title at featherweight and super featherweight and I want that third one. I know sometimes he may be already busy with scheduled fights and he may not be able to unify, but Jorge Linares is there. I hear they are willing to work. I recently spoke to De La Hoya a few months back after Linares' victory over Crolla and I congratulated them and I told Oscar that he looked real good. I would like to get a chance at him and he said, "Yeah, let's get to work. We can make it happen." And I heard the WBC was saying they would like to order that fight of the winner of my fight and the winner of Linares and Crolla fight to face each other later on in the year. That would also help if the WBC pushes for that fight and we both win, then we might be able to see each other later on in the year and those are great fights for me. Those are fights that I've been wanting and those are fights that the fight fans would enjoy and that's what it's about.
PC: It's great to have you back on the site and back in the ring; best of luck on the 28th. It would be a treat to see you in the ring 3 times or so this year.
MG: Thank you very much for the support. I promised everybody I would be back and now I'm back and we're about to take over, man. Make sure you keep up, keep watching, and I appreciate all of the love and support that we get from you guys. Thank you!
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]