Garcia Confident Ahead Of Salidio World Title Fight

Undefeated No. 1 featherweight contender Mikey Garcia, his co-trainers Eduardo and Robert Garcia and manager Cameron Dunkin, hosted a Riverside, California Media Workout on Thursday.

A native of Oxnard, Calif. and a graduate of the Ventura County Police Academy, Garcia is in his final week of training camp before he heads east to “The Mecca of Boxing,” Madison Square Garden, where he will challenge WBO featherweight champion Orlando “Siri” Salido (39-11-2, 27 KOs), of Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, México.

The Salido vs. Garcia world title fight will headline a championship tripleheader which will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark, Saturday, January 19, at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

Here is what Garcia had to say:

“It has been a very intense training camp because we know that this is the most important fight of my career. I believe I have the skills and the strength to beat Orlando Salido, but I know that I have to be very smart and very patient in the ring.

“Orlando Salido is the best featherweight champion in the world and he has earned the right to be called that. He is very strong and very experienced and this will be the toughest test of my career, but I am ready for it.

“I have been waiting to fight for a world championship for awhile and I am ready for the challenge. I now have the experience and the skill to face the best fighters at featherweight and I will prove it.

“I love going to New York for this fight. New York has always been a great fight town and I had a great experience there when I fought there last year. It’s a great place to fight and a great place to win my first world championship.

“Looking forward to a great fight and to giving the fans my best effort possible. I know that is about winning but also about giving the fans their money’s worth.”

Garcia (30-0, 26 KOs) returns to the ring having won 14 of his past 15 bouts by knockout. Considered to be one of boxing’s top young prospects, Garcia, 24, had a career-best year in 2011, knocking out previously undefeated contender Matt Remillard in the 10th round in March to capture his NABF and NABO title belts.

He followed that with four-round knockout title defense victories of Rafael Guzman and Juan Carlos Martinez in June and October, respectively. Guzman and Martinez had a combined record of 47-14-1 when they fought Garcia.

Last year, he continued his winning ways, knocking out one-time world title challenger Bernabe Concepcion and former world champion Mauricio Pastrana, in the seventh and second rounds, respectively.

In his last fight , on November 10, Garcia knocked out former WBA featherweight champion Jonathan Barros in the eighth round. Garcia is trained by his father Eduardo Garcia and co-managed by his brother, 2012 Trainer of the Year Robert Garcia, the former IBF junior lightweight champion.

Promoted by Top Rank and K2 Promotions, in association with Tecate and Madison Square Garden, remaining tickets, priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, are currently available for purchase at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008) and online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.thegarden.com.