So much for Emmanuel Tagoe.
The Athletic is reporting that Ryan Garcia has agreed to fight Luke Campbell for the WBC’s “interim” title and talks will begin immediately, with the winner to face Devin Haney for another WBC title.
No date or site has been reported. It would be streamed by DAZN.
The WBC last week ordered the fight, after which Garcia Tweeted: “I’m finally getting to fight a southpaw my favorite fighters to fight! Bring it on luke Campbell.”
The WBO announced today that it ordered a lightweight title eliminator between Garcia and Emmanuel Tagoe but, if The Athletic’s report is accurate, Garcia has decided to go a different direction.
I’m finally getting to fight a southpaw my favorite fighters to fight! Bring it on luke Campbell
— Ryan Garcia (@KingRyanG) July 1, 2020
Campbell and Garcia are ranked Nos. 2 and 3 in the WBC rankings, behind Javier Fortuna. Fortuna is planning to face Jorge Linares for yet another WBC belt.
Campbell (20-3, 16 KOs) has more name recognition and high-level experience than Tagoe. The southpaw from England won a gold medal in the 2012 Olympics and has twice fought for major titles, losing decisions to Linares (SD) and Vasiliy Lomachenko (UD).
A victory over Campbell would represent a significant step forward in Garcia’s career, particularly if he can score a knockout. Campbell has never been stopped.
Garcia (20-0, 17 KOs) is developing a reputation as a KO artist. He has stopped his last two opponents in the first round, including a classic one-punch stoppage of Francisco Fonseca on Feb. 14.
Tagoe (31-1, 15 KOs) is a good boxer with an impressive record but he has fought outside his hometown of Accra only once, a ninth-round stoppage of journeyman Gerardo Robles in 2013. He’s a question mark.
Lomachenko, the WBC’s “franchise” champion, is scheduled to face IBF 135-pound titleholder Teofimo Lopez in what presumably would be a title-unification bout on Sept. 19.