Former world champion Sergio Mora said he was disappointed by Mikey Garcia’s performance against Sandor Martin at the weekend.
The 33-year-old American was back in action after two years away from the ring, in part due to the coronavirus pandemic. Martin, a 28-year-old from Spain, had fought as recently as April and put on a much more controlled performance to win on points.
Speaking on JABS as part of the DAZN Boxing Show, Chris Mannix began by saying: “I don't want to take anything away from Sandor Martin and this was the performance of a lifetime, but I was disappointed in what I saw from Mikey Garcia.”
Mannix did not think that his time away was enough of an explanation for the loss.
“He was coming off a 20 month layoff but he came off a two-and-a-half-year layoff back in 2016. Beat Elio Rojas and then started up moving his way through some of the best of the 135 and 140 lb division. This was a lacklustre Mikey Garcia, who has fought southpaws in three of his last six fights, looking like he didn't know what to do with that left hand going straight up the middle.
“Mikey Garcia prides himself on being a high IQ fighter. This was not a high IQ fight for Mikey Garcia.”
Mora suggested that the coronavirus interruption to his career had held him back, coupled with his advancing years.
“That's what age and inactivity do to you, no matter how great you are,” he explained.
“I know a lot about inactivity, and it just saps your confidence, your timing and your ability to pull the trigger. We saw all of that tonight with Mikey Garcia. He had no game plan and looked frustrated, but in a way there was no desperation with him either.
“He kept holding his hand up in the air, he kept playing to the crowd. He thought he won - he used excuses in the end. I'm not used to seeing that from the great Mikey Garcia and I'll say that again. What he's accomplished is great. I think he's pound for pound great, but what he did tonight is just disappointing. He didn't admit the loss. Sandor Martin had the night of his life. Let's just applaud that and give him all the credit he deserves.”