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Mikey Garcia on Salido v Juanma and the facing winner

Phil D. Jay 
WBN Editor
Oxnard fighter on the verge of world title

Undefeated featherweight Miguel ‘Mikey’ Garcia is said to be just one fight away from a world title shot and has set his sights on fighting the winner of the WBO title rematch between Orlando Salido and Juan Manuel Lopez.

The Californian has a standout 27-0 record with 23 wins within schedule and is expected to return in the spring after which, the exciting 24 year-old is eyeing a world title challenge in the summer, possibly against ‘Juanma’ or Salido.

“I think it’s a good rematch,” Garcia told World Boxing News.

“Salido can hurt Lopez like he did in the first fight, but if Lopez plans on out-boxing Salido, his chances of winning are better.

“I would love to fight the winner for the WBO title, although I think that if ‘Juanma’ wins he will move up in weight before facing me.

“The best chance is if Salido wins again - then I’ll be facing him next because he’s not one to duck anybody,” he added.

WBO #3 Garcia may now be required to fight #2 ranked Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo (40-0, 24 KO’s) in either an eliminator or an interim title bout to position himself as the number one contender for the title bout in Puerto Rico on March 10.

Champion Salido, 31, went into the first meeting with 28 year-old Lopez as a huge underdog in April and pulled off a shock eighth-round TKO victory in front of a stunned crowd at the Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in Bayamon.

The Mexican seems to have no qualms about returning to Lopez’s backyard to give the Caguas-native a chance to win back his title and has proved a seasoned road warrior in the past in winning two world titles.

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