Mikey Garcia says he matches up better with Manny Pacquiao

Mikey Garcia said he matches up better with the smallish Manny Pacquiao than he did against Errol Spence Jr.

Money is a powerful incentive to pursue a fight with Manny Pacquiao. However, for Mikey Garcia, there’s more to it than that.

The former four-division titleholder told BadLeftHook.com that he also likes the fact that Pacquiao is a small welterweight, as he is. Both of them could fight at 140 pounds but chose to fight at 147 because of the more-lucrative fights at that weight.

Garcia is coming off a fight with a big, talented welterweight in Errol Spence Jr., who dominated the bout from beginning to end to win a shutout decision in March of last year.

“I think styles make fights,” Mikey said. “He’s not a tall, lanky fighter who can complicate things like Errol Spence did. He’s shorter in height, doesn’t have the reach like some of these other welterweights do. That fits much better to give an entertaining fight with me.

“I remember sparring with him years ago, and I was able to fight similar to what [Erik] Morales and [Juan Manuel] Marquez did. It was only sparring, but I did well.”

Garcia reportedly on the short list of prospective opponents for Pacquiao, who outpointed Keith Thurman to win a title in his last fight.