Remillard Has Tough Top Rank Debut, Against Mikey Garcia

MANCHESTER, Conn. (March 8, 2011) – The fight to determine America’s leading  featherweight, pitting unbeaten NABF and NABO champion Matt “Sharp Shooter” Remillard against undefeated IBF # 1 contender Mikey Garcia, is the 10-round co-feature on Top Rank’s “Featherweight Fury,” March 26 on HBO After Dark live from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The 24-year-old Remillard (23-0, 14 KOs) is at his Passaic, New Jersey in training camp with his new head trainer, Michael “Mike Red” Skownowski. The WBA #3, WBO #4 and WBC #5 rated Remillard puts his NABF and NABO title belts on the line against USBA titlist Garcia (24-0, 20 KOs).

There are world title shot implications for the Remillard-Garcia winner against IBF Featherweight Champion Yuriorkis Gamboa, or his challenger Jorge Solis if he pulls off an upset, in the 12-round “Featherweight Fury” headliner.

Tickets, priced at $200, $100 and $50 plus applicable fees, are available to purchase at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office or by calling Ticketmaster at 800.736.1420 or online at ticketmaster.com.

Below find Remillard’s quotes from training camp:

Making his Top Rank Debut

“It’s my first fight with Top Rank, so I need to be impressive, because they’ve shown a lot of faith in me by putting my first fight with Top Rank on HBO in a very big fight. There’s a lot of pressure but I thrive on pressure.”

Fighting on HBO for the first time

“I’ve only fought on ESPN once and that was for only four rounds. HBO is the biggest network. Everybody wants to fight on HBO. This is the perfect opportunity for me and I will be prepared. It’s going to be a good show.”

The Impact

“It all hasn’t hit me, yet. After a few weeks training in New Jersey, I think it’ll hit me when I finally sit down at the press conference in New York City, and then go to Atlantic City for the final few days. Talking about the fight, seeing everybody there, including the main event fighters….it’ll hit me then.”

New Trainer

“We have a couple of more weeks working together but everything has been smooth to this point. We have a good game plan and mesh well together. He watches over me during training, reviews some of my fight tapes at night, and comes in the next day with something new. He’s a good guy and a good trainer who brings a lot to the table.”

Mikey Garcia

“I knew him pretty well when we were amateurs. I can’t say a bad word about him. I know his style: he’s a banger who hits hard with both hands. He’s one of the best fighters in our division and he has a great team. Robert Garcia (Garcia’s older brother and head trainer) has done a tremendous job with Mikey and his whole stable of fighters. (Nonito) Donaire just won the Fight of the Year and (Brandon) Rios the title. Garcia is on a roll and somebody has to stop him.”

The Fight

“I think we have a great TV fight. This is a fight that deserves to be on television and I’m glad HBO put its faith in both of us. You don’t see two young, undefeated fighters going against each other very often. (Timothy) Bradley and (Devan) Alexander did a few weeks ago, but a lot of people didn’t think it lived up to all the hype. Everybody expected an all out war but stuff happens like Alexander getting cut.”

Potential Gamboa Fight

“We’re (Remillard and Garcia) both trying to get into the spot where Gamboa is. We’re both heading that way and we have to go through each other to get there.”

Comment on this article