By David Martinez / dmboxing.com
Unbeaten WBC lightweight champion Mikey Garcia (38-0 / 30 by KO) moved up in weight to challenge unbeaten IBF junior welterweight champion Sergey Lipinets (13-1 / 10 by KO) on Saturday night and won a unanimous 12 round decision.
Garcia now joins the elite company of Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez as the only fighters in boxing history to win World Titles in four different weight classes, 126, 130, 135 and 140.
The fight was competitive, and Lipinets came to fight, but it was Garcia with the harder more damaging shots.
In round seven Lipinets threw a right uppercut that failed to land followed by grazing left hook, as Garcia countered with a perfect left hook to drop the Russian. I personally felt that had Garcia thrown more body shots he would of stopped Lipinets.
The official judges scoring was: 116-111, 117-110, 117-110 … my scorecard 9 rounds to 3, 117-110, for the winner Garcia.
The fight was televised on Showtime from the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas.
Over on ESPN Saturday night, from the StubHub Center in Carson, California unbeaten WBO featherweight champion Oscar Valdez (24-0 / 19 by KO) won a tough 12 round unanimous decision over Scott Quigg (34-2-2 / 25 by KO).
Quigg failed to make weight, but Valdez still needed the win to keep his WBO title belt.
The fight was a blockbuster right from the opening bell with both fighters throwing some big punches.
With both bleeding from terrific shots, Quigg from his left eye and Valdez from his mouth, it was an all out war to the final bell, with Valdez suffering a broken jaw.
The judges official scoring was: 117-111, 117-111, 118-110 … my scorecard was 8 to 4 in rounds, 116-112, to the winner Valdez.
Valdez vs Quigg was an absolute war. Garcia shouldn’t move to WW. He isn’t as strong at JWW. Great night of boxing. Lipinets came ready.