WBA Regular Champion Hector Garcia to Face Lamont Roach Jr?
In the junior lightweight division, after things were shuffled around, WBA Regular champion Hector Luis Garcia (16-0, 10KO) stands as its only champion. Furthermore, he could be ordered to face #1 contender Lamont Roach Jr (23-1-1, 9KO) soon.
GARCIA WENT FROM BEING UNKNOWN TO A CHAMPION
The Dominican-born champion, nicknamed “El Androide”, has had a tremendous year. Garcia accepted a fight on two week’s notice and upset then-top contender Chris “Primetime” Colbert on February 27. Colbert was supposed to face then-WBA champion Roger Guiterrez who contracted COVID-19, canceling the fight.
Garcia, a 2016 Olympian, counterpunching and excellent footwork became the story of the fight. Furthermore, he became the first man to knock down Primetime with a perfectly timed left hook counter in the seventh round. No longer an unknown, Garcia, full of confidence, turned in a second career performance by dominating WBA champion Gutierrez .
ROACH JR COULD GET A SECOND SHOT AT THE TITLE
Roach Jr got off to a solid career start with sixteen straight victories before getting a draw in a bad performance against Orlando Cruz in 2018. However, he bounced back with three-straight wins to earn a title shot against WBO champion Jamel Herring in 2019.
The 27-year-old Washington D.C native suffered his first defeat while attempting to win the title. However, his two biggest victories over former WBA champion Rene Alvarado and top contender Angel Rodriguez put him in position for a second shot at the title.
The junior lightweight division is wide open, and it will be interesting to see how things develop going into 2023.
By: Garrisson Bland
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