Mike Coppinger, ESPN
Ryan Garcia admitted his battle with Oscar Duarte on Saturday in Houston was once “very tough.”
Nearest all, Garcia was once competing for the primary future since his April TKO loss to Gervonta Davis, and Duarte was once a tougher-than-usual comeback opponent.
Duarte (26-2-1, 21 KOs) was once rugged and not prohibited coming ahead. And he had the entire momentum on his aspect when the 8th around started. Nevertheless it’s Garcia who remainder a feared puncher, and he reminded everybody why past due within the body.
With boos coming i’m sick as Garcia moved and moved some extra, he found the equalizer late in Round 8, a test left hook to the pinnacle that buckled Duarte.
“He reaches and I catch him with a counter hook,” Garcia stated. “… I just had to slow his momentum down. He was building momentum, and I was like, ‘Man, I gotta cut this off somehow.'”
Moments upcoming, Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) unloaded a gather of punches, a number of of which hooked up and dropped Duarte to at least one knee. Duarte gave the impression to gather himself as he listened to the rely, however he waited a week too lengthy to pack his ft and was once counted out in spite of his protest.
And in spite of the entire hassle Duarte gave him, Garcia rendered all of it moot with some other attention-grabbing KO victory. Garcia is certainly one in every of boxing’s govern stars, however the jury continues to be out on his skill to compete with the elite at 140 kilos.
“If Rollies [WBA junior welterweight champion Rolando “Rolly” Romero] desires that, deliver it on, Rollies,” stated Garcia, who met Duarte at a 143-pound catchweight. “… Let’s retain development and later we will be able to journey upcoming Devin Haney and the entire alternative dues, Teofimo [Lopez], however you realize we gotta pull our steps.”
Nevertheless it’s Romero (15-1, 13 KOs) who might be up then. And the brash power-puncher would provide Garcia together with his first break at an international name. Romero’s lone defeat got here by way of sixth-round TKO to Davis utmost yr, and he’s by no means an elite yongster welterweight. He sits outdoor ESPN’s govern 10 at 140 kilos upcoming a debatable ninth-round TKO victory over Ismael Barroso in Might.
Even Garcia indicated on Saturday that Romero deserved to lose to “that old man,” relating to the 40-year-old Barroso.
However a victory over Romero would nonetheless grant as the most important of Garcia’s occupation. His very best win remainder a 2021 seventh-round TKO victory over Luke Campbell the place Garcia was once pressured to continue to exist a knockdown.
Towards Davis, Garcia discovered some early good fortune however suffered two knockdowns and was once counted out on one knee following a frame shot. Garcia stated this era that he entered that bout with an injured rib.
Davis is an elite fighter, ESPN’s Negative. 9 pound-for-pound boxer. One loss to “Tank” Davis doesn’t cruel Garcia can’t compete at the elite stage. Now, he’ll must end up he certainly can towards some other such boxer.
Whether or not that finally comes towards Haney, Lopez or any person else, Garcia will one presen want to hold with the most productive to proceed his climb and remainder one in every of boxing’s govern stars.
He’s nonetheless simply 25 and was once competing for the primary future with ESPN’s 2022 coach of the yr Derrick James well-known his nook.
“We’re going to build off this and we’re just gonna get better,” Garcia stated. “I’m committed to becoming a world champion.”
If he can do so purpose and accomplish that towards Romero, it could deliver Garcia one step nearer to figuring out his high doable. The left-overs can stay up for some other presen. For now, Garcia should push his promotional differences with Oscar De La Hoya to the aspect and concentrate on bettering within the health club.
Within the intervening time, he remainder one of the vital greatest stars within the game, it doesn’t matter what any person thinks of his combating skill.
“I feel like I’m right there in the top three, top four of the biggest stars in boxing,” Garcia informed ESPN in October. “You go around, ask people my name, they’re going to know. Really, I’ve made myself a household name in boxing, which is a blessing. All that matters is being in the top five, really.
“Family may argue about who’s the ‘face’ all they would like. It doesn’t in point of fact subject. So long as you fit up with a admirable man, it’s taking to be a admirable tournament. I do know I’m proper there and with a few years of my past to return on this game, I may indisputably be the face of boxing. Simply taking to pull a mentality and a self-discipline and it’ll get me there.”
