LOS ANGELES -- Robert Garcia, the trainer and older brother of lightweight world titlist Mikey Garcia, told ESPN that his brother has been talking to UFC president Dana White about a possible promotional deal with his Zuffa Boxing.
While White continues to run UFC, he has plans to sign boxers and promote events in that sport also. Mikey Garcia, who is not signed to any promoter, would be an attractive target for any promoter, as he is an undefeated four-division world titleholder and one of boxing's best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
"A month ago maybe, before Mikey's last fight, [White] saw Mikey train a full workout," Garcia said. "When he left the gym, he said, 'I want to invite you guys to [Las] Vegas.' I never went to Vegas, but I think Mikey went, and they had a meeting. He was there, and he said after the fight, 'I want to invite you guys to Vegas,' that he wanted to fly us in."
On March 10, Garcia (38-0, 30 KOs), 30, of Ventura, California, outpointed Sergey Lipinets to win a junior welterweight world title to make him a four-division titleholder. Not long after the fight, Garcia vacated the belt in order to continue fighting at lightweight, where he also holds a belt.
Robert Garcia said he has not spoken to his brother in about two weeks, but he expects him back in the gym Monday to begin training for his next fight, which is supposed to be a Showtime-televised lightweight title unification bout with Robert Easter Jr. (21-0, 14 KOs) on July 28 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, though the fight has not been formally announced.
"That's what it looks like, but Mikey hasn't confirmed the fight yet, but I know he's training on Monday," Robert Garcia said. "But I don't know if Mikey wants to get into a promotional contract. If he does sign with Dana, it's got to be something that makes a lot of sense for Mikey. What we've seen Dana do with UFC, if he's able to bring something like that to boxing, then it will be huge. I think Mikey would do something [with White] if it was well worth it for him."
White, a lifelong boxing fan, has promoted UFC events for years but came over to boxing briefly last summer when he was heavily involved in the promotion of the August boxing match between UFC superstar Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather, the second-highest grossing fight in history. White didn't return a message seeking comment.