Tag: Garcia Campbell

Video: Mannix, Mora: How would Ryan Garcia-Luke Campbell fight play out?

Ryan Garcia is one of the fastest-rising young stars in the sport. Luke Campbell is a proven veteran. They are expected to collide in a lightweight bout this November, probably in California, although contracts have yet to be signed. How would that …

Ryan Garcia is one of the fastest-rising young stars in the sport. Luke Campbell is a proven veteran.

They are expected to collide in a lightweight bout this November, probably in California, although contracts have yet to be signed.

How would that fight play out?

Garcia seems to be loaded with talent and can crack, but he hasn’t faced anyone on the level of Campbell, a former Olympian. Campbell lost to Jorge Linares and Vasiliy Lomachenko in two of his last five fights but acquitted himself reasonably well both times.

In this episode of Jabs with Mannix and Mora, courtesy of DAZN, hosts Todd Grisham and Sergio Mora give their takes on the prospective 135-pound showdown.

Here’s what they had to say.

[jwplayer ndT22rvg]

Video: Mannix, Mora: How would Ryan Garcia-Luke Campbell fight play out?

Ryan Garcia is one of the fastest-rising young stars in the sport. Luke Campbell is a proven veteran. They are expected to collide in a lightweight bout this November, probably in California, although contracts have yet to be signed. How would that …

Ryan Garcia is one of the fastest-rising young stars in the sport. Luke Campbell is a proven veteran.

They are expected to collide in a lightweight bout this November, probably in California, although contracts have yet to be signed.

How would that fight play out?

Garcia seems to be loaded with talent and can crack, but he hasn’t faced anyone on the level of Campbell, a former Olympian. Campbell lost to Jorge Linares and Vasiliy Lomachenko in two of his last five fights but acquitted himself reasonably well both times.

In this episode of Jabs with Mannix and Mora, courtesy of DAZN, hosts Todd Grisham and Sergio Mora give their takes on the prospective 135-pound showdown.

Here’s what they had to say.

[jwplayer ndT22rvg]

Devin Haney puts his 135-pound rivals on notice

Devin Haney gives his thoughts on what lies ahead for him in the stacked lightweight division.

Devin Haney has watched from the sidelines as those below him in the lightweight rankings have tried to figure out who they will be fighting next.

As it stands, it looks as if Javier Fortuna will take on Jorge Linares for what the WBC calls its “diamond belt.” And Luke Campbell and Ryan Garcia are in negotiations to fight for the WBC “interim” title, with the winner to face Haney.

The WBC calls Haney (24-0, 15 KOs) it’s 135-pound champion but he’s positioned below “franchise” champion Vasiliy Lomachenko. Haney last fought on Nov. 9, when he shut out Alfredo Santiago at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Here are Haney’s thoughts on what’s going on around him and how he fits in amid the coronavirus pandemic:

“I’m excited to get back in the ring. This has been the longest time between fights in my career. My body received a well-deserved rest. I’m blessed. Lately, I’ve been fortunate to spend a lot of time with ‘TBE’ Floyd Mayweather. Being compared to Mayweather is the ultimate compliment for any fighter in this era of boxing.

“I’m the most skilled fighter in the world right now and I’m looking forward to an opponent I can make a statement against. I’m working diligently with Mauricio Sulaiman and the WBC to make the big fights happen. Every decision made by the WBC hasn’t went my way, but I have a genuine love and respect for the WBC family as a whole. I’m proud to represent the WBC organization.

“Vasyl Lomachenko is a true professional and considered to be a top five pound-for-pound champion. I challenged him for the WBC lightweight world title and I didn’t get the big fight I wanted, but I got the belt I deserved by stopping Zaur Abdullaev and becoming Vasyl Lomachenko’s mandatory challenger to the lightweight world title.

“Ironically, the big fight never happened because Lomachenko and Top Rank petitioned the WBC not to fight me and award him the franchise title. I then petitioned the WBC to elevate me from interim champion to full world champion because Lomachenko chose not to fight me and I had previously beat the highest ranked fighter available.

“Let’s make this clear: You can’t win the franchise title and you can’t challenge a franchise champion. I’m 21-years old, and I’m the WBC world lightweight champion, and I believe in fighting mandatory challengers. The 135-pound unification runs through me. Enough said!

“At this point in my career I don’t mind mandatories at all because it forces the best fighters in my division to get in the ring with me. They can run but they can’t hide. Mandatory for me means mandatory cash. It’s good to be in a stacked division. If I can, I’m going to fight all of them.

“I hope Teofimo Lopez beats Loma and then fights me in a unification for all the belts like he promised Mauricio Sulaiman. To me it looks like Luke Campbell is looking forward to the opportunity of getting beat up by me more than Ryan Garcia is looking forward to it. I’m guessing, in Ryan’s defense, he’s never lost so he’s moving a little different and trying to stay undefeated, but I … think Eddie Reynoso and Golden Boy really don’t want him to fight me yet. Luke is accustomed to losing big fights, we know he’s come up short more than once. …

“As far as Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis? I don’t like throwing water on a drowning man but leaving a stacked 135-pound division, to take a fight at super featherweight kind of tells you where he’s at. It’s no secret I’m a problem at 135 pounds. I know Jose Ramirez ain’t sleeping good at night either. He got Haney at 140 pounds or Terence Crawford at 147 pounds. Problems to think about.

“I don’t wish that on anybody. Josh Taylor is an easier fight for Ramirez then me or Bud, but it’s still a tough 50-50 fight. Ramirez is out here looking like food on the low. This pandemic is something we’ve never seen. It’s tough on everyone around the world. We’ve all been in quarantine for the last few months, including myself, and fortunately staying at home is the best place to be. Similar in many ways to training camp.

“I pray to God things get back to normal soon. I’m anxious to get back in the ring as soon as the experts give the green light. I want all the smoke.”

 

Luke Campbell excited about prospect of facing Ryan Garcia

Luke Campbell told talkSPORT.com in the U.K. that Ryan Garcia will face a stiff test if they agree to terms.

Ryan Garcia and Luke Campbell reportedly have agreed to fight one another but they have not signed contracts, meaning we don’t know whether the intriguing fight will actually take place.

That said, the fighters obviously like the concept.

Garcia Tweeted after the WBC ordered the fight for its 135-pound “interim” title, with the winner to face Devin Haney for another WBC title: “I’m finally getting to fight a southpaw, my favorite fighters to fight! Bring it on Luke Campbell.”

And Campbell told talkSPORT.com in the U.K. on Monday that Garcia will face a stiff test if they agree to terms.

“He is [talented], but I’m also very talented as well,” Campbell said. “… It gives me a fantastic opportunity to show the world what I’ve got and who I can beat. … He’s quick, he carries power, so yeah.

“It’s a fantastic fight, a fight I’m very excited about.”

Campbell has no idea when or where the fight would take place, although it would be streamed by DAZN.

“I’m not sure,” he said. “The WBC’s ordered it, but then that means it has to go to the promoters to figure out a date, venue, location and all that type of stuff. … I wanna be out as soon as possible, I only need a five-week training camp, six-week training camp.

“I’m ready to go. It’s not as if I’ve not been training, I’ve had two training camps [for fights that fell through recently], but I’ve been in camp doing the work.”

The WBO this week ordered a title eliminator between Garcia (20-0, 17 KOs) and Emmanuel Tagoe (31-1, 15 KOs). That could give Garcia a viable option if talks with Campbell (20-3, 16 KOs) fall through and the WBO gives Garcia and Tagoe time to negotiate.

Ryan Garcia has agreed to fight Luke Campbell: report

The Athletic is reporting that Ryan Garcia has agreed to fight Luke Campbell for the WBC’s “interim” title and talks will begin immediately.

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.

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.

 

 

Ryan Garcia and Emmanuel Tagoe ordered by WBO to begin negotiations

The WBO has ordered a lightweight title eliminator between Garcia and Tagoe, giving the sides 20 days to reach an agreement.

First Luke Campbell. Now Emmanuel Tagoe. Ryan Garcia apparently has a decision to make.

The WBO has ordered a lightweight title eliminator between Garcia and Tagoe, giving the sides 20 days to reach an agreement. That follows an order by the WBC for Garcia to begin negotiations for an “interim” title fight against Campbell, with the winner to face Devin Haney for another WBC belt.

The promoters of Garcia and Tagoe received the following letter from the WBO, which can be found on its website:

“Please be advised the parties have twenty (20) days upon receipt of this letter to negotiate and reach an agreement regarding the WBO Lightweight Elimination Contest between WBO Lightweight Participants Ryan Garcia and Emmanuel Tagoe. If an accord is not reached within the time frame set forth herein, a Purse Bid will be ordered pursuant with the WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests.

“The minimum acceptable bid for the WBO Lightweight Division is $150,000.00 (One Hundred Fifty Thousand) dollars. Any of the parties involved may request a purse bid procedure at any time during the negotiation process. The parties are hereby advised that this Committee reserves the right to issue all necessary rulings regarding sanction approval of this bout and/or determinations to maintain active the WBO Lightweight Division.”

Garcia and Tagoe are ranked Nos. 1 and 2 by the WBO, respectively. Cambell and Garcia are Nos. 2 and 3 in the WBC rankings, behind Javier Fortuna. Fortuna is planning to face Jorge Linares.

Campbell and Tagoe would both be legitimate tests for the fast-rising Garcia, who has stopped his last two opponents in the first round.

Campbell (20-3, 16 KOs) has better name recognition and more high-level experience than Tagoe. The southpaw from England won a gold medal in the 2012 Olympics and has come up short in two title challenges, losing decisions to Jorge Linares (SD) and Vasiliy Lomachenko (UD).

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.

The lightweight title picture is a mess even by frustrating sanctioning body standards. Lomachenko is the WBO and WBA titleholder and holds what the WBC calls its “franchise” belt. Haney fits in below Lomachenko in the WBC hierarchy. Gervonta Davis holds what the WBA calls its “regular” title.

Lomachenko is scheduled to face IBF 135-pound titleholder Teofimo Lopez in a title-unification bout on Sept. 19.

WBC orders fight between Ryan Garcia and Luke Campbell for interim title

The WBC has ordered a fight between Nos. 2- and 3-ranked Luke Campbell and Ryan Garcia for the sanctioning body’s interim lightweight title.

Ryan Garcia’s first genuine test could come against Luke Campbell.

The World Boxing Council has ordered a fight between Nos. 2- and 3-ranked Campbell and Garcia for the sanctioning body’s interim lightweight title.

No. 1-ranked Javier Fortuna was expected to face Campbell for that belt but Fortuna chose to fight Jorge Linares on Aug. 28 instead.

Garcia (20-0, 17 KOs) has become a fan favorite after a series of knockouts, including a KO of the Year candidate against Francisco Fonseca on Feb. 14. However, he hasn’t faced an opponent of Campbell’s pedigree.

Campbell (20-3, 16 KOs) is a 2012 Olympic gold medalist and two-time title challenger, losing a split decision to Linares in 2017 and a unanimous decision to Vasiliy Lomachenko — Boxing Junkie’s No. 1 fighter pound for pound — last August. He’s left-handed.

“I’m finally getting to fight a southpaw my favorite fighters to fight! Bring it on luke Campbell,” Garcia said on Twitter.

That comment is encouraging for those who would like to see the matchup because the fighters must still come to terms. On top of that, Garcia is at odds with his promoter, Golden Boy. It’s not clear what, if any, role that could play going forward.

ESPN reported that Garcia and Golden Boy officials are scheduled to meet this week.

“We just got the letter today [from the WBC], so we’re in the process of talking to Ryan,” Golden Boy President Eric Gomez told ESPN. “We’re going to talk to his team, we’re going to see what he wants to do.

“That’s one of the guys he’s said repeatedly that he wants to fight,” said Gomez, referring to Campbell.

Also, the WBC’s handling of the lightweight division is an example of how absurd the ranking system can be.

Lomachenko is the “franchise” champion, meaning he doesn’t have mandatories. Devin Haney a world champion even though he fits in below the Ukrainian star. Fortuna and Linares are fighting for what the WBC calls its “Diamond Belt,” whatever that is. And Campbell-Garcia would be for the interim belt.