Mikey Garcia vs. Jessie Vargas fight results: Garcia proves power in decision win, wants Manny Pacquiao

Now that Garcia has taken care of Vargas, is Pacquiao next for the Mexican-American welterweight?

Stubborn to prove his legitimacy as a welterweight, Mikey Garcia doubled down at 147 pounds on Saturday night and let his right hand do the talking. Garcia (40-1, 30 KOs) shook off an 11-month layoff following his first defeat and proved his welterweight power by dropping a tough Jessie Vargas (29-3-2, 11 KOs) en route to a unanimous decision inside The Ford Center Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

A late Vargas rally kept the scorecards close as Garcia took home judges scores of 114-113, 116-111, 116-111 in a fight he visibly dominated after a slow start. CBS Sports also scored the bout 116-111.

"I feel very happy to be back and I did have to make adjustments to his height, reach and natural size," Garcia said. "As the fight went on, I started feeling that I was hurting him and closing the gap a little bit more. I figured out the timing and pace and I thought it went well. "I think I carried the weight a little better which allows me to perform better. I was light on my feet when I had to [be], and I was solid on my feet when I had to [be]. Jessie is a big man."

Despite giving up 5 inches in height and 3 inches in reach, the 32-year-old Garcia showcased the timing and form that has seen him ranked among the pound-for-pound best in the sport. The former four-division champion outlanded Vargas 152-142, according to CompuBox, and connected on 44 percent of his power shots. More importantly, the four-division champion successfully rebounded from a one-sided loss to current unified champion Errol Spence Jr. in their pay-per-view clash last April.

After signing a one-fight deal with future options to fight on DAZN under the promotional banner of Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Sport, Garcia also put himself in a great spot to possibly draw Manny Pacquiao this summer.

"I think I can have big options. I'm ready to get back in with the best," Garcia said. "I would love to fight Manny Pacquiao or get a rematch with Errol Spence. I think it would be a tremendous fight, and I'm better now at this weight class. I think I want to continue to campaign at 147 and search a title in my fifth division."

Garcia bloodied the nose of Vargas and wobbled him with combinations in Round 5 before sending him to the canvas with a hard right cross. He went on to hurt the 30-year-old Vargas twice more but was unable to force the stoppage even though referee Jon Schorle appeared close to stepping in late in Round 7 when Vargas was pinned against the ropes.

"I started to hurt him as the rounds went by. I took him closer to the corner and caught him with a good right hand that knocked him down," Garcia said. "Over time, he started to feel the power and I hurt him again. I felt that my speed and power was all perfect, and I was able to put it into effect against a bigger guy."

To his credit, Vargas never stopped trying to win. After recovering from wobbly legs throughout the middle portion of the fight, he kept pressing forward to give him a shot at stealing a number of late rounds due to his output and focus on the body.

"Mikey fought a great fight. His timing was pretty good and precise. I give him credit," Vargas said. "It was a learning experience for me. I thought it was a close fight. I would like a rematch. I'm not arguing or disputing the decision, but I did think it was close. I think the knockdown made a difference. I really got overconfident with his power. I think he has good pop and credit to Mikey."

Garcia vs. Vargas card, results

Mikey Garcia def. Jessie Vargas via unanimous decision (114-113, 116-111, 116-111)
Roman Gonzalez def. Khalid Yafai (c) via 9th-round KO to win the WBA super flyweight title
Julio Cesar Martinez (c) def. Jay Harris via unanimous decision (117-109, 116-111, 115-112) to retain the WBC flyweight title
Joseph Parker def. Shawndell Winters via 5th-round TKO

Brian Campbell's scorecard

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Total
Garcia	9	9	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	9	9	116
Vargas	10	10	9	9	8	9	9	9	9	9	10	10	111

Be sure to subscribe to the State of Combat with Brian Campbell podcast for for the best in boxing coverage each week. 

[Mar 1, 2020 at 12:20 am ET · Brian Campbell]

Garcia:
"I feel very happy to be back. I did have to make adjustments to his height, reach and natural size. As the fight went on, I started feeling that I was hurting him and closing the gap a little bit more. I figured out the timing and pace and I thought it went well."

[Mar 1, 2020 at 12:13 am ET · Brian Campbell]

SCORECARDS: 114-113, 116-111 and 116-111 for Mikey Garcia.

[Mar 1, 2020 at 12:11 am ET · Brian Campbell]

I've got it 116-111 for Mikey Garcia.

[Mar 1, 2020 at 12:11 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R12: Garcia wobbles him with a hook. Good right hand from Vargas. He's a warrior, there is no doubt. They will go the distance. Give the final frame to Vargas thanks to two big shots at the bell, 10-9.

[Mar 1, 2020 at 12:10 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R12: Lead right hand from Garcia. Good left hand from Vargas as he rumbled forward. Right cross scores for Vargas.

[Mar 1, 2020 at 12:09 am ET · Brian Campbell]

ROUND 12: Vargas hustling to make this a phone booth fray in the final frame. Hard jabs from Garcia.

[Mar 1, 2020 at 12:06 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R11: Vargas twice counters jabs with rights to the body. Vargas sneaks in a pair of right hands. Good pressure late here. Give the close round to Vargas for the busy second half, 10-9.

[Mar 1, 2020 at 12:05 am ET · Brian Campbell]

ROUND 11: Two right hands from Garcia back Vargas up. Left hand to the body from Vargas.

[Mar 1, 2020 at 12:03 am ET · Brian Campbell]

I've got it 98-91 for Garcia entering the championship rounds.

[Mar 1, 2020 at 12:03 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R10: Right to the body from Vargas is countered with a jab from Garcia. Vargas lands a lead hook before the bell. Give the round to Garcia for hurting him with the right hand. 10-9.

[Mar 1, 2020 at 12:02 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R10: Vargas scores a counter right. That's the punch Garcia needs to beware of as Vargas dropped Tim Bradley with it in the final round years ago.

[Mar 1, 2020 at 12:01 am ET · Brian Campbell]

ROUND 10: Nice counter right from Vargas to remind Garcia he's here. Good combo from Garcia. Another right hand wobbles Vargas.

[Feb 29, 2020 at 11:59 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R9: Give the slight edge to Garcia for ring generalship. 10-9 Garcia.

[Feb 29, 2020 at 11:58 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

ROUND 9: The threat of Garcia's right hand has kept this one from heating up. Neither has had much success.

[Feb 29, 2020 at 11:55 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

I've got it 78-73 for Garcia. He's cruising.

[Feb 29, 2020 at 11:54 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R8: Good right from Vargas late but not enough. 10-9 Garcia.

[Feb 29, 2020 at 11:54 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R8: Vargas puts some punches together but Garcia walks right through them. This is one-sided.

[Feb 29, 2020 at 11:53 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

ROUND 8: Garcia in full control using his jab to set up right hands. Left uppercut caught Vargas leaning over. Blood still flows from Vargas' nose.

[Feb 29, 2020 at 11:50 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R7: Perfect counter right wobbles Vargas. Now Garcia goes for the finish along the ropes. Huge power shots. The referee takes a look but Vargas survives the round. 10-9 Garcia.

[Feb 29, 2020 at 11:50 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R7: Right hand to the side of the head from Garcia. Vargas comes back to the body but he's visibly fading.

[Feb 29, 2020 at 11:49 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

ROUND 7: Vargas jabs to the body. Hard left hand from Garcia causes Vargas to take a step back and shake his head.

[Feb 29, 2020 at 11:46 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R6: Vargas fights him off to avoid any further trouble but it's another round for Garcia, 10-9.

[Feb 29, 2020 at 11:45 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R6: You have to love Garcia's patience here. He lines up a two-punch combo but isn't rushing or taking the chance he would wear himself out.

[Feb 29, 2020 at 11:45 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R6: Lead left hook for Garcia hits. Vargas is wobbling. Garcia trying to time the perfect finishing shot.

[Feb 29, 2020 at 11:44 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

ROUND 6: Right uppercut from Garcia scores. He's on the attack with a flurry of combos. Vargas digs to the body twice to gain back respect. This is an active Garcia going for the finish with his right hand.

[Feb 29, 2020 at 11:42 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R5: Big flurry from Garcia. He pins Vargas on the ropes and goes to the body. Vargas survives. 10-8 for Garcia.