Garcia stops Lopez in fourth round

Photo:  Joel Colon/PBBP –

Mikey Garcia stopped Juan Manuel Lopez in the fourth round on Saturday, leaving the WBO featherweight title vacant after Garcia failed to make weight.

Garcia (32-0) weighed in at 128 pounds (58 kg) on Friday, two pounds over the featherweight limit.

Lopez weighed in at 125.5 pounds (57 kg). Even though he tried to shed a couple pounds before the weigh-in, Garcia knew it was likely he was going to have to forfeit his title.

“The disappointment was there because I lost my title,” Garcia said.

“I was crying a little bit because I knew I wasn’t the champion. But everybody got a chance to see I’m a good fighter. This was a satisfying victory.”

Garcia put Lopez on the ground with a strong left-handed blow 1:34 into the fourth round for his 27th career knockout.

Lopez (33-3) would have regained the title with a win.

Garcia won the title from Orlando Salido on a unanimous decision in New York on January 19.

The title reign, however, was short-lived after Garcia didn’t make weight.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1778861/Garcia-stops-Lopez-in-fourth-round