By Victor Salazar 

New York - If there is anyone just as relieved as Mikey Garcia (32-0, 28 KO's) in his return to the ring this Saturday, it's his brother and trainer, Robert Garcia. Garcia returns as the co-feature to Santa Cruz-Frampton on Showtime live from Brooklyn's Barclays Center.

"Its a relief," said Robert Garcia. "It was a little frustrating. I personally didn't think it would last two and a half years but everything happens for a reason. Mikey did things he never did before like spend plenty of time with his family, vacation, and other hobbies. I think it was a good thing it happened. He's only 28 and we still have his prime ahead of him."

The layoff may have been great for Garcia and his love for boxing. His brother feels that the lay off my have prolonged the career of Mikey Garcia.

"I truly think that if Mikey would have continued fighting straight through, he would probably be retired or on his way towards retirement," explained the trainer. "He would have accomplished a lot of things and said I'm done. Now he sees the difference in boxing especially with fighters making it big now, so i think we'll have him for a lot longer. Now he's got goals and challenges ahead of him at 135, 140, and even 147."

Garcia feels had Garcia gone the route of Terence Crawford, his star power would be a level above Crawford.

"I think Mikey would have been a little bit above that level," stated Garcia. "I'm not talking bout talent wise because Terence Crawford is one of my favorite fighters. but I'm talking in terms of following because the Mexicans and Latinos love boxing and pay for their pay-per-views. Mikey would have probably fought Pacquiao already but I think he'd be a bigger star and not skill wise because Terence Crawford is an amazing talent. But being that he's Mexican American, Mikey would be bigger."