Mikey Garcia mauls Robert Easter Jnr to claim WBC lightweight title on points in Los Angeles
Impressive performance from 30-year-old against unbeaten opponent
Garcia (39-0) dominated for the majority of the fight and knocked down Easter in the third round. A game but uninspired Easter had no answer to the barrage of blows laid on him throughout the 12 rounds.
Garcia unified the two 135-pound titles with flair in his first fight in his native California in seven years and eventually landed a wide unanimous decision. All three judges favoured Garcia, scoring it 116-111, 117-110 and 118-109.
The 30-year-old Garcia has been a world champion in four weight classes, and his combination of precision and power was too much for Easter (21-1). Garcia knocked down Easter with a nasty left hook in the third round and nearly finished the bout moments later but failed to register a first knockout since January 2017.
“I prepared for the best Robert Easter,” Garcia said. “He came in and gave a great fight. I did what I had to do to win.
“I’m a hungry fighter. I’m in my prime,” Garcia added before saying he wants to face unbeaten welterweight champion Errol Spence Jnr in his next bout.
Additional reporting by AP
