Mikey Garcia took part in the last major fight before the COVID-19 global pandemic rocked the boxing world when he knocked down and went on to beat Jessie Vargas in an entertaining affair at the end of February 2020.
Now, 20 months later, Garcia makes his highly anticipated return to the ring when he takes on former European super-lightweight champion Sandor Martin at Chukchansi Park in Fresno, Calif.
Garcia (40-1, 30 KOs) plans on reminding the boxing world that he is still one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport.
"I do feel like I have to perform and to win spectacularly," Garcia said to DAZN News. "I keep hearing people ask me if I need a knockout. I don’t need a knockout to look great. I don’t need a knockout to show everybody who I am as a fighter and that I still have everything and haven’t lost a step. I just got do well, perform well, and do my job and that’s getting the win in a way that fans recognize the talent is still here, and that’s what I plan on doing."
Martin (38-2, 13 KOs) has fought primarily in Spain and will be making his United States debut. He wants to make a good first impression on the American audience.
"It’s important to be making my U.S. debut against Mikey Garcia," Martin told DAZN News. "It’s a great opportunity. It’s a great opportunity to present myself for the first time in the United States. Yes, this is the challenge I need. I need exposure on the world level, so after Mikey Garcia, I can be in the big fights, the big events, and fight the big names in boxing. That’s why I accepted this fight and came over to the United States. Mikey Garcia is definitely one of the best fighters in the world. I’ve always wanted to fight the best fighters."
Here's everything you need to know about Garcia vs. Martin.
What time is Mikey Garcia fighting tonight?
Date: Saturday, October 16
Main card: 7:30 p.m. ET/12:30 a.m. BST
Main event ringwalks (approx): 11:30 p.m. ET/4:30 a.m. BST
The Mikey Garcia vs. Sandor Martin main card will take place on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET and at 12:30 a.m. BST for UK fans. Garcia and Martin are set to make their ringwalks at approximately 11:30 p.m ET/4:30 a.m. BST although that depends on the length of the earlier bouts.
What channel/stream is Mikey Garcia vs. Sandor Martin?
U.S.: DAZN
UK: DAZN
Garcia vs. Martin will have their 145-pound catchweight fight broadcast worldwide on DAZN in over 200 countries and territories.
Where is the Garcia vs. Martin fight?
The Garcia vs. Martin fight is taking place at Chukchansi Park in Fresno, Calif. in front of an expected crowd of over 8,000 fans.
Mikey Garcia record and bio
Nationality: American
Born: December 15, 1987
Height: 5'6"
Reach: 68"
Total Fights: 41
Record: 40-1 with 30 knockouts
Sandor Martin record and bio
Nationality: Spanish
Born: August 22, 1993
Height: 5'7.5"
Reach: 69 inches
Total Fights: 40
Record: 38-2 with 13 knockouts
Mikey Garcia vs. Sandor Martin fight card
- Mikey Garcia vs. Sandor Martin; 145-pound Catchweight
- Elwin Soto vs. Jonathan Gonzalez for Soto's WBO Light Flyweight title
- Juan Alejandro Burgos vs. Jesse Rodriguez; Junior Flyweight
- Brock Jarvis vs. Alejandro Frias Rodriguez; Junior Lightweight
- Marc Castro vs. Angel Luna; 131-pound Catchweight
- Diego Pacheco vs. Lucas de Abreu; Super Middleweight
- Nikita Ababiy vs. Sanny Duversonne; Middleweight
- Luciano Ramos vs. Charlie Sheehy; Lightweight
- Oscar Alan Perez vs. Raymundo Rios Cardiel; Lightweight