Mexican great Erik Morales believes old rival Manny Pacquaio would brush lightweight star Ryan Garcia aside in two rounds should they ever clash in the ring.
Late last month, talks for an unlikely bout between the Filipino legend and hot property Garcia gathered pace, with the Californian lightweight seemingly poised to jump two divisions to participate in a highly lucrative encounter, having halted Luke Campbell to win the WBC ‘Interim’ belt in early January.
The Garcia-Pacquiao talk has cooled somewhat but negotiations continue as boxing’s recent past and possible future seek to establish their next move. But Morales, who upset Pacquiao on the cards in March 2005 before losing two subsequent meetings by KO, says the mooted bout is a mismatch.
“Pacquiao with Ryan is a very lopsided fight. Even though he is old, he can put Ryan to bed in two rounds,” Morales told ESPN Deportes.
“I think [Garcia] is taking advantage of being a popular fighter. That is the reality, he is already a champion, but he has to face the best to solidify it, because he is hardly an ‘interim’.
“I would love for Pacquiao to fight Mikey Garcia, who is a not a big fighter. There are [Errol] Spence and [Terence] Crawford, but Spence is very big, he’s tough and Crawford is a good boxer. I don’t think he [beats] them, they are natural welterweights, although the Filipino always surprises.”
