ARLINGTON, TEXAS – MARCH 16: Errol Spence Jr lands a blow against Mikey Garcia in an IBF World Welterweight Championship bout at AT&T Stadium on March 16, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. Tom Pennington/Getty Images/AFP
Errol Spence Jr. put on a boxing clinic against Mikey Garcia in a resounding title defense that most likely serves as a prelude to a showdown with Filipino ring legend Manny Pacquiao.
Spence dominated Garcia for 12 rounds for a lopsided unanimous decision victory with the three judges scoring the bout, 120-107, 120-108, 120-108.
Pacquiao joined Spence in the ring after the bout and both expressed their intentions to fight one another.
“I am looking at the winner of this fight. Spence wants to fight me,” said Pacquiao during a TV interview. “I am hoping to be back here, soon.”
“He is a legend of the sport. It would be my honor to fight him next,” Spence said.
The 29-year-old Spence stretched his undefeated streak to 25-0 with 21 knockouts and dealt Garcia (39-1, 30 KOs) his first defeat.
He retained his IBF welterweight title for the third time after winning it two years ago in an 11th round knockout of Kell Brook in England.
“People said I couldn’t box,” said Spence. “You saw it today. I can box, I can move my head. I can do it if I want to.”