Sports

Boxing: Garcia Grabs Belt, and Much Needed Win

Published

5 years ago

March 1, 2020

Mikey Garcia knocks down Jessie Vargas in the fifth round during their WBC Welterweight Diamond Championship bout at The Ford Center at The Star on February 29, 2020 in Frisco, Texas. Tom Pennington/Getty Images/AFP

FRISCO, Tx. (FNN SPORTS) – Late Saturday night, The Ford Center pumped with excitement and anticipation of the return of one of boxing’s premier fighters, Mikey Garcia. With a seemingly sold out venue and pro-Garcia crowd, the big questions on everyone’s mind was how would Garcia bounce back after his first loss? And could he prove he belong in a division that seems just a one size too big?

For Jesse Vargas, the question was simple: Can you finally take that step in your career to beat a top contender and get a defining win that puts you over the hump of being labeled “opponent”?

Both men came out focused, but Garcia’s body tightened, once again looking uncomfortable with his opponent. Garcia, known for his rhythm, timing, and great angles, looked out of sorts and took some big shots. Vargas pressed early, fighting with a controlled chaos, determined to take the fight to Garcia. After most of the first three rounds, Vargas was in control, and it seemed like Mikey once again bit off more than he could chew.

By the forth round, however, Garcia seemed to find his timing. His jab landed more effectively setting up his right, and he was moving a lot better, avoiding some of those big punches he was previously taking. It seemed that for every punch Vargas scored, Garcia tried to respond with two or three more of his own, making for an exciting round as both men traded punches.

The tables turned in round five. Garcia used some serious clout to floor and all but finish Vargas, landing multiple hooks to Vargas’ head. It was as if that was what Garcia had been searching for–proof that he could hurt one of these guys, and it gave him all the confidence he needed as he returned into prime Garcia form, pressuring, stalking and punishing Vargas with some heavy blows as he piled up winning rounds. Vargas rallied late, making the fight a bit more interesting, but it wasn’t enough. Mikey Garcia won a unanimous decision victory (114-113, 116-111, 116-111) and gained the WBC Dimond belt.

In what was a decent fight to watch, Garcia did exactly what he was supposed to do, and to Vargas’s credit, so did he. The problem with this fight wasn’t that Garcia looked bad in victory. He didn’t. He actually looked pretty good at points. But therein lies the problem–he looked good at points against a guy who is not great, and he didn’t look complete. It’s hard to remember a time when Garcia, especially over the course of the last two fights, took so many hard punches. In combination with no head movement, and just looking a step behind Saturday night, it’s very possible that whoever Garcia’s next opponent is will once again be too much for him to handle.

This welterweight division is the most stacked division in boxing. The amount of talent in this class, not to mention who can come up from 135, has a lot of boxing fans excited for how this landscape will play out. There was a lot of talk about a potential showdown with living legend and WBA Super Welterweight Champion Manny Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) as Garcia’s next move. But if camp Garcia really wants to cash in on the welterweight cow, it might be smart to look elsewhere first because at this point I cannot see Garcia out-pointing Pacquiao anytime soon.

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Antonio Campana is a Florida National News sports contributor. | sports@floridanationalnews.com

Related Topics:#AntonioCampana #FNNSports #GarciavsVargas FNN

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Orlando Pride Drops First Match of 2025 Season in 1-0 Loss to Washington Spirit

Published

20 hours ago

April 20, 2025

Javier Garcia

Orlando Pride’s Marta advances the ball against a Washington Spirit player. Photo by Florida National News / Harry Castiblanco.

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The Orlando Pride (4-1-0, 12 pts) suffered their first defeat of the 2025 NWSL regular season, falling 1-0 to the Washington Spirit (4-1-0, 12 pts) on Saturday evening at Inter&Co Stadium. The narrow loss ended a dominant four-game winning streak to start the year and marked the first regular-season home defeat to the Spirit since 2019.

The game was defined by the Pride’s offensive pressure, totaling 20 shots and 11 corner kicks, yet they were unable to capitalize on their opportunities. A key moment came in the 65th minute, when forward Barbra Banda’s header struck the crossbar, nearly equalizing the game.

Orlando Pride’s Marta shows disappointment over goal ruling. Photo by Florida National News / Harry Castiblanco

Controversial Goal Overturned

Orlando Pride appeared to tie the match in the second half when Marta sent in a corner kick that resulted in a goal, but following a lengthy VAR review, the goal was disallowed, leaving the home crowd frustrated.

Match-Winning Error

The lone goal of the match came in the 63rd minute, when Washington forward Gift Monday intercepted a misplayed pass from Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse and tapped it into the net. The mistake proved costly in a game the Pride largely dominated in possession (60%) and shots on goal (6-2).

Seb Hines Reacts to First Loss

“I think 99 percent of the match we did well. We played with intensity and put Washington under immense pressure,” said Head Coach Seb Hines post-match. “The frustration is when you dominate a game and don’t get anything out of it. The performance was good, but we have to move on.”

Match Highlights and Key Stats

Anna Moorhouse made her 34th consecutive regular season start, tying Ali Krieger’s Club record.
Moorhouse also broke the Club record for most consecutive minutes played at the 70-minute mark (3,060 minutes).
Angelina was named Heineken Star of the Match.
Oihane made her first career NWSL start.
Grace Chanda made her NWSL debut as a second-half substitute.
Kylie Nadaner now ranks second all-time in Pride appearances with 95.

What’s Next for Orlando Pride?

The Pride will remain home at Inter&Co Stadium as they look to bounce back against Angel City FC on Friday, April 25. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET and will air on Prime Video. Orlando will aim to get back in the win column and regain early-season momentum in front of their home crowd.

Javier Garcia and Harry Castiblanco
Sports@FloridaNationalNews.com

Sports

Osceola Magic Fall to Stockton Kings in NBA G League Finals, 118-110

Published

5 days ago

April 15, 2025

Willie David

Photo by Florida National News / Pierredens Jeune

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The Osceola Magic’s historic run came to a close Monday night as they fell to the Stockton Kings, 118-110, in Game 3 of the NBA G League Finals presented by YouTube TV. The showdown at Osceola Heritage Park ended in front of a sellout crowd of 3,421 fans, marking a bittersweet finish to an electrifying season.

Game Highlights

Ethan Thompson led the charge for Osceola with 28 points on 8-of-17 shooting.
Myron Gardner notched a double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds.
Dexter Dennis came off the bench to lead Stockton with 23 points, shooting 7-of-13 from the field and 3-of-5 from three.
Isaac Jones, on assignment from the Sacramento Kings, posted 21 points (8-of-11 FG) and 13 rebounds.
Mason Jones added 19 points and 13 assists for Stockton and was named NBA G League Finals MVP.

The game got off to a scrappy, high-energy start as both teams battled for momentum. Despite holding a narrow lead at halftime, the Magic struggled to contain the Kings’ bench unit in the fourth quarter, where Stockton surged ahead thanks to Dennis and Jones’s scoring bursts.

Game Highlights – Video

The Magic’s defensive efforts waned late, allowing the Kings to outpace them in fast breaks and capitalize on second-chance points. While Osceola pushed back in the final two minutes, the deficit proved too much to overcome.

What’s Next for Osceola Magic

With their season now complete, the Osceola Magic close out the 2024-25 NBA G League season with a 22-12 regular season record—a strong showing for the franchise since relocating to Kissimmee.

Fans interested in becoming part of the next chapter can secure 2025-26 season tickets now by visiting OsceolaMagic.com/2025-26-tickets.

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J Willie David, III
Pierredens Jeune, Vdeiographer
Sports@FloridaNationalNews.com

Sports

Mac McClung and Osceola Magic Fall 144-126 in Game 2, Set for Championship-Deciding Game 3

Published

1 week ago

April 12, 2025

Willie David

Getty Images: Osceola Mac McClung

STOCKTON, Calif. (FNN SPORTS) – The Osceola Magic fell short in Game 2 of the NBA G League Finals on Friday night, losing 144-126 to the Stockton Kings at Adventist Health Arena. With the series now tied 1-1, the championship will be decided in a winner-takes-all Game 3 on Monday, April 14 at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida.

Despite the loss, the Magic saw four players score 20 or more points. Leading the charge was Mac McClung, who poured in 34 points and handed out 8 assists, showcasing the explosiveness that’s made him a three-time NBA Slam Dunk Champion. Jalen Slawson added 23 points against his former team, while Myron Gardner contributed 22 points, and Alex Morales chipped in 20.

However, the Stockton Kings were red-hot offensively. Mason Jones led the way with a 27-point, 12-assist double-double, while Skal Labissière added 26 points and 7 rebounds. The Kings were nearly unstoppable from the field, shooting a sizzling 56.7% overall and 58.5% from three-point range, knocking down 24 threes as a team.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR OSCEOLA MAGIC?
The NBA G League Finals, presented by YouTube TV, return to Osceola Heritage Park for a decisive Game 3 on Monday, April 14. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.

Fans attending the game will have the chance to snag exclusive merch—the first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a limited-edition Osceola Magic G League Finals T-shirt, courtesy of AdventHealth.

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J Willie David, III
Sports@Florida National News.com