The 25 year-old shocked when hitting the scales at over 128lbs at the initial weigh-in last night, before returning an hour later at 127 and a half pounds, therefore losing his WBO featherweight title without a punch being thrown in anger.
Garcia will now be fighting to keep his standout 31-0 run intact against former belt holder Lopez, 29, but will be looking to sufficiently impress enough to be given an immediate shot at a world crown at the higher weight.
Opponent ‘Juanma’ has scored two low-key stoppage wins since losing for a second time to Orlando Salido in March of last year after previously reigning at two weights with the sanctioning World Boxing Organisation.
The entertaining Puerto Rican has another chance to prove his detractors wrong an reclaim the title that he made his own in 2010 with two successful defences against Bernabe Concepcion and Rafael Marquez.
The 26 knockouts on Garcia’s perfect C.V would suggest there could be a 27th on the horizon, although Lopez has proven his power with 30 to his name. An early finish to the contest would certainly be the favourite tonight in a fight that would have to be edged towards the unbeaten Californian.
