Ryan Garcia believes he’s a fighter of destiny. The unbeaten lightweight contender form Los Angeles hasn’t beaten an elite opponent yet but he seems to have all the ingredients required to build a major star. Garcia faces his biggest test on …
Ryan Garcia believes he’s a fighter of destiny.
The unbeaten lightweight contender form Los Angeles hasn’t beaten an elite opponent yet but he seems to have all the ingredients required to build a major star.
Garcia faces his biggest test on Saturday, when he’ll face 2012 Olympic champion and two-time title challenger Luke Campbell at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
In this video, courtesy of DAZN, Garcia discusses he mindset going into the first big fight of the near year.
Ryan Garcia believes he’s a fighter of destiny. The unbeaten lightweight contender form Los Angeles hasn’t beaten an elite opponent yet but he seems to have all the ingredients required to build a major star. Garcia faces his biggest test on …
Ryan Garcia believes he’s a fighter of destiny.
The unbeaten lightweight contender form Los Angeles hasn’t beaten an elite opponent yet but he seems to have all the ingredients required to build a major star.
Garcia faces his biggest test on Saturday, when he’ll face 2012 Olympic champion and two-time title challenger Luke Campbell at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
In this video, courtesy of DAZN, Garcia discusses he mindset going into the first big fight of the near year.
Five questions going into the Ryan Garcia vs. Luke Campbell fight.
Lightweight contenders Ryan Garcia and Luke Campbell are scheduled to meet for an “interim” lightweight title Saturday at American Airlines Arena in Dallas (DAZN).
For Garcia, it’s the biggest test of a promising young career. For Campbell, an Olympic champion who has fallen short in his biggest professional fights, it’s a golden opportunity to get it right.
There are many questions going into the much-anticipated showdown. Here are five of them:
NO. 1
HOW GOOD IS RYAN GARCIA?
We don’t know. He seems to be good, with natural gifts, good schooling and one-punch knockout power. Fifteen of his 17 KOs have come within four rounds. However, he must prove he can beat next-level opposition. His best foe so far might be Romero Duno or Francisco Fonseca, both of whom he stopped in one round. That’s a far cry from Campbell, an Olympic gold medalist and seasoned pro, and the other top 135-pounders. We want to see how Garcia responds when he’s pushed by an elite fighter, when he faces adversity at the highest level. Only then will we know whether he’s as capable as he seems to be against second-tier opponents.
NO. 2
HOW GOOD IS LUKE CAMPBELL?
Good. Campbell has the Olympic pedigree and God-given gifts, good length, solid speed, solid power. The problem is that he has lost his biggest fights as a professional. He held his own but lost decisions to Jorge Linares and Vasiliy Lomachenko in title fights, although the fact he learned shortly before the Linares fight that his father had died might’ve affected his performance. We simply don’t know whether he has a big victory in him. Again, the ability is there. The break-through success hasn’t been. We’ll learn a lot more about the 33-year-old from Hull on Saturday.
NO. 3
CAN GARCIA HURT CAMPBELL?
We’ll see. The Briton has been down four times but he has never been stopped as a professional. The man is durable. However, he might never have faced an opponent with Garcia’s God-given power. King Ryan has become a knockout artist. He has four consecutive stoppages, the last three in the second, first and first rounds. The last one was a one-punch KO of the Year candidate against the veteran Fonseca that sent the boxing world into a tizzy. Campbell can take a punch. Garcia can crack. Something will have to give on Jan. 2.
NO. 4
IS THIS GARCIA’S COMING OUT PARTY?
Maybe. Garcia already is something of a celebrity, with 7.8 million followers and counting on Instagram. And the 22-year-old has done everything he could do against second-tier opposition since he turned pro in 2016, winning consistently in dominating fashion. He has outboxed three of his opponents and stopped the rest. If he can do the same against a fighter of Campbell’s ability – particularly if he can do it more easily than Linares and Lomachenko did — he will have reached another level in the sport.
NO. 5
DOES THE WINNER GET AN IMMEDIATE SHOT A LEGITIMATE WORLD TITLE?
Not likely. Teofimo Lopez claimed all four major lightweight belts with his victory over Lomachenko, meaning everything goes through him for the time being. The Garcia-Campbell winner is an attractive opponent but Lopez has several good options, including Devin Haney. A more realistic opponent for the Garcia-Campbell winner might be secondary lightweight titleholder Gervonta Davis, although they’re aligned with competing companies. Make no mistake, though: The man who has his hand raised on Saturday will have taken a significant step toward realizing his dreams.
Five questions going into the Ryan Garcia vs. Luke Campbell fight.
Lightweight contenders Ryan Garcia and Luke Campbell are scheduled to meet for an “interim” lightweight title Saturday at American Airlines Arena in Dallas (DAZN).
For Garcia, it’s the biggest test of a promising young career. For Campbell, an Olympic champion who has fallen short in his biggest professional fights, it’s a golden opportunity to get it right.
There are many questions going into the much-anticipated showdown. Here are five of them:
NO. 1
HOW GOOD IS RYAN GARCIA?
We don’t know. He seems to be good, with natural gifts, good schooling and one-punch knockout power. Fifteen of his 17 KOs have come within four rounds. However, he must prove he can beat next-level opposition. His best foe so far might be Romero Duno or Francisco Fonseca, both of whom he stopped in one round. That’s a far cry from Campbell, an Olympic gold medalist and seasoned pro, and the other top 135-pounders. We want to see how Garcia responds when he’s pushed by an elite fighter, when he faces adversity at the highest level. Only then will we know whether he’s as capable as he seems to be against second-tier opponents.
NO. 2
HOW GOOD IS LUKE CAMPBELL?
Good. Campbell has the Olympic pedigree and God-given gifts, good length, solid speed, solid power. The problem is that he has lost his biggest fights as a professional. He held his own but lost decisions to Jorge Linares and Vasiliy Lomachenko in title fights, although the fact he learned shortly before the Linares fight that his father had died might’ve affected his performance. We simply don’t know whether he has a big victory in him. Again, the ability is there. The break-through success hasn’t been. We’ll learn a lot more about the 33-year-old from Hull on Saturday.
NO. 3
CAN GARCIA HURT CAMPBELL?
We’ll see. The Briton has been down four times but he has never been stopped as a professional. The man is durable. However, he might never have faced an opponent with Garcia’s God-given power. King Ryan has become a knockout artist. He has four consecutive stoppages, the last three in the second, first and first rounds. The last one was a one-punch KO of the Year candidate against the veteran Fonseca that sent the boxing world into a tizzy. Campbell can take a punch. Garcia can crack. Something will have to give on Jan. 2.
NO. 4
IS THIS GARCIA’S COMING OUT PARTY?
Maybe. Garcia already is something of a celebrity, with 7.8 million followers and counting on Instagram. And the 22-year-old has done everything he could do against second-tier opposition since he turned pro in 2016, winning consistently in dominating fashion. He has outboxed three of his opponents and stopped the rest. If he can do the same against a fighter of Campbell’s ability – particularly if he can do it more easily than Linares and Lomachenko did — he will have reached another level in the sport.
NO. 5
DOES THE WINNER GET AN IMMEDIATE SHOT A LEGITIMATE WORLD TITLE?
Not likely. Teofimo Lopez claimed all four major lightweight belts with his victory over Lomachenko, meaning everything goes through him for the time being. The Garcia-Campbell winner is an attractive opponent but Lopez has several good options, including Devin Haney. A more realistic opponent for the Garcia-Campbell winner might be secondary lightweight titleholder Gervonta Davis, although they’re aligned with competing companies. Make no mistake, though: The man who has his hand raised on Saturday will have taken a significant step toward realizing his dreams.
Ryan Garcia is one of the hottest young stars in boxing. Joe Camporeale / USA TODAY Sports
Record: 20-0 (17 KOs)
Current titles: None
Other titles: None
Home country: United States (Los Angeles)
Age: 22
Pro debut: 2016
Pro rounds: 60
Height: 5 feet, 10 inches (178 cm)
Reach: 70 inches (178 cm)
Stance: Orthodox
Trainer: Eddy Reynoso
***
LUKE CAMPBELL BIO
Luck Campbell lost both times he fought for a major world title. Alex Livesey / Getty Images
Record: 20-3 (16 KOs)
Current titles: None
Other titles: None
Home country: England (Hull)
Age: 33
Pro debut: 2013
Pro rounds: 142
Height: 5 feet, 9 inches (175 cm)
Reach: 71 inches (180 cm)
Stance: Southpaw
Trainer: Shane McGuigan
***
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH
Ryan Garcia is already must-see TV (or streaming). The Los Angeles fighter reminds many of his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya: gifted, well-schooled, powerful, good looking, charismatic. Those traits might account for his 7.8 million followers on Instagram. The interesting thing is that he has reached this level of popularity without beating a top-tier opponent. That’s where Campbell comes in. The 2012 Olympic champion has failed in two attempts to win a world title but is seen as a legitimate test for Garcia, which adds further intrigue to the matchup.
***
FIVE KEY QUESTIONS
How good is Ryan Garcia? We don’t know. He seems to be good, with natural gifts, good schooling and one-punch knockout power. Fifteen of his 17 KOs have come within four rounds. However, he must prove he can beat next-level opposition.
How good is Luke Campbell? Campbell has the Olympic pedigree and God-given gifts. The problem is that he has lost his biggest fights as a professional. We simply don’t know whether he has a big victory in him.
Can Garcia hurt Campbell? We’ll see. The Briton has been down four times but he has never been stopped as a professional. Garcia has incapacitated one opponent after another. Something will have to give on Jan. 2.
Is this Garcia’s coming out party? Maybe. He has done everything he can against second-tier opposition, winning consistently in dominating fashion. If he can do the same against a fighter of Campbell’s ability, he will have arrived.
Does the winner get an immediate shot a legitimate world title? Not likely. Teofimo Lopez owns all four major belts, meaning everything goes through him. The Garcia-Campbell winner is an attractive opponent but Lopez has several good options.
***
WHY GARCIA WILL WIN
Campbell isn’t the only one with a solid amateur pedigree. Garcia reportedly finished his unpaid career with a record of 215-15. He knows how to box. And he’s the more gifted of the two fighters, quicker, more athletic, definitely more powerful. His early knockouts can be attributed in part to his level of opposition — solid, not elite — but his ability to hurt opponents is authentic. The Angeleno has yet to defeat an opponent at Campbell’s level but he seems to have all the tools necessary to do so. And he seems to have unwavering belief in himself, as if he knows he will accomplish big things. That sort of confidence can help turn expectations into reality.
WHY CAMPBELL WILL WIN
Campbell has that superb amateur foundation, which makes him a threat to anyone. He, too, can box. And he has the experience that Garcia lacks, which is a significant advantage. He lost his two biggest fights — title bouts against Jorge Linares and Vasiliy Lomachenko — but he gave a good account of himself both times and undoubtedly learned from his mistakes. And remember: He had lost his father shortly before the Linares fight yet still almost won. And there’s no shame in losing to Lomachenko. Finally, Campbell is tough. Again, he’s been down but has always gotten up. Bottom line: He has the ability, the seasoning and the durability to beat Garcia.
PREDICTION
Campbell will demonstrate early in the fight that he isn’t like Garcia’s previous opponents. His jab and intelligent movement will force his less-experienced foe to make adjustments, which won’t be easy. However, Garcia will eventually impose his will on Campbell, using his own ring acumen and quickness to set up hard, accurate shots to turn the fight in his favor and wear Campbell down. The Briton will go down at least once but he will get up and hear the final bell. In the end, Garcia will have landed more punches and the cleaner shots, which will impress all three of the judges.
Garcia by UD
***
ALSO ON THE CARD
Felix Alvarado vs. DeeJay Kriel, junior flyweights (for Alvarado’s title)
Rene Alvarado vs. Roger Gutierrez, junior lightweights
Franchon Crews Dezurn vs. Ashleigh Curry, super middleweights
Ryan Garcia is one of the hottest young stars in boxing. Joe Camporeale / USA TODAY Sports
Record: 20-0 (17 KOs)
Current titles: None
Other titles: None
Home country: United States (Los Angeles)
Age: 22
Pro debut: 2016
Pro rounds: 60
Height: 5 feet, 10 inches (178 cm)
Reach: 70 inches (178 cm)
Stance: Orthodox
Trainer: Eddy Reynoso
***
LUKE CAMPBELL BIO
Luck Campbell lost both times he fought for a major world title. Alex Livesey / Getty Images
Record: 20-3 (16 KOs)
Current titles: None
Other titles: None
Home country: England (Hull)
Age: 33
Pro debut: 2013
Pro rounds: 142
Height: 5 feet, 9 inches (175 cm)
Reach: 71 inches (180 cm)
Stance: Southpaw
Trainer: Shane McGuigan
***
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH
Ryan Garcia is already must-see TV (or streaming). The Los Angeles fighter reminds many of his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya: gifted, well-schooled, powerful, good looking, charismatic. Those traits might account for his 7.8 million followers on Instagram. The interesting thing is that he has reached this level of popularity without beating a top-tier opponent. That’s where Campbell comes in. The 2012 Olympic champion has failed in two attempts to win a world title but is seen as a legitimate test for Garcia, which adds further intrigue to the matchup.
***
FIVE KEY QUESTIONS
How good is Ryan Garcia? We don’t know. He seems to be good, with natural gifts, good schooling and one-punch knockout power. Fifteen of his 17 KOs have come within four rounds. However, he must prove he can beat next-level opposition.
How good is Luke Campbell? Campbell has the Olympic pedigree and God-given gifts. The problem is that he has lost his biggest fights as a professional. We simply don’t know whether he has a big victory in him.
Can Garcia hurt Campbell? We’ll see. The Briton has been down four times but he has never been stopped as a professional. Garcia has incapacitated one opponent after another. Something will have to give on Jan. 2.
Is this Garcia’s coming out party? Maybe. He has done everything he can against second-tier opposition, winning consistently in dominating fashion. If he can do the same against a fighter of Campbell’s ability, he will have arrived.
Does the winner get an immediate shot a legitimate world title? Not likely. Teofimo Lopez owns all four major belts, meaning everything goes through him. The Garcia-Campbell winner is an attractive opponent but Lopez has several good options.
***
WHY GARCIA WILL WIN
Campbell isn’t the only one with a solid amateur pedigree. Garcia reportedly finished his unpaid career with a record of 215-15. He knows how to box. And he’s the more gifted of the two fighters, quicker, more athletic, definitely more powerful. His early knockouts can be attributed in part to his level of opposition — solid, not elite — but his ability to hurt opponents is authentic. The Angeleno has yet to defeat an opponent at Campbell’s level but he seems to have all the tools necessary to do so. And he seems to have unwavering belief in himself, as if he knows he will accomplish big things. That sort of confidence can help turn expectations into reality.
WHY CAMPBELL WILL WIN
Campbell has that superb amateur foundation, which makes him a threat to anyone. He, too, can box. And he has the experience that Garcia lacks, which is a significant advantage. He lost his two biggest fights — title bouts against Jorge Linares and Vasiliy Lomachenko — but he gave a good account of himself both times and undoubtedly learned from his mistakes. And remember: He had lost his father shortly before the Linares fight yet still almost won. And there’s no shame in losing to Lomachenko. Finally, Campbell is tough. Again, he’s been down but has always gotten up. Bottom line: He has the ability, the seasoning and the durability to beat Garcia.
PREDICTION
Campbell will demonstrate early in the fight that he isn’t like Garcia’s previous opponents. His jab and intelligent movement will force his less-experienced foe to make adjustments, which won’t be easy. However, Garcia will eventually impose his will on Campbell, using his own ring acumen and quickness to set up hard, accurate shots to turn the fight in his favor and wear Campbell down. The Briton will go down at least once but he will get up and hear the final bell. In the end, Garcia will have landed more punches and the cleaner shots, which will impress all three of the judges.
Garcia by UD
***
ALSO ON THE CARD
Felix Alvarado vs. DeeJay Kriel, junior flyweights (for Alvarado’s title)
Rene Alvarado vs. Roger Gutierrez, junior lightweights
Franchon Crews Dezurn vs. Ashleigh Curry, super middleweights
Luke Campbell said he’s determined not to waste his Christmas sacrifice ahead of his clash with Ryan Garcia on Saturday in Dallas.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.
***
British lightweight Luke Campbell has sacrificed Christmas with his family in order to prepare as well as he can for his fight with Ryan Garcia on Saturday (DAZN).
The 22-year-old Californian will face veteran Campbell in Dallas for the WBC “interim” lightweight title.
Campbell, 33, flew from Hull to the United States to prepare for the clash, which was originally planned for early December but was pushed back because of COVID-19.
Campbell, speaking to Hull Live, said he believes it was a sacrifice worth making for his career.
“I’m a professional boxer, and this is a huge fight so I have to prepare like I would every other fight whether it’s Christmas or not,” he said. “It’s a big sacrifice to be away from my boys and my wife and family, it’s the hardest thing about what I do, but I won’t be doing this forever.
“When the fight was rearranged for January 2nd I knew what I had to do, and it’s time to take care of business, and we’ll do all the celebrating together when I come home.”
[lawrence-related id=16765,16687,16293,15765]
Campbell (20-3, 16 KOs) last fought in August 2019, when he lost a world title challenge to Vasyl Lomachenko. He does not want to let the chance of another title fight to slip through his fingers.
The winner of Campbell vs. Garcia should be in line to fight secondary WBC titleholder Devin Haney next year. Teofimo Lopez is the WBC champion.
“It’s been a frustrating year with everything, but I’ve had two fights planned that have been pulled which was frustrating,” Campbell said. “What that means is I have been through two training camps this year already and now this one, so I’m in great shape. And the fact I’ve not fought since 2019 is not a problem.
“I’ll be ready for him and I’m ready to start the new year in style.”
Luke Campbell said he’s determined not to waste his Christmas sacrifice ahead of his clash with Ryan Garcia on Saturday in Dallas.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.
***
British lightweight Luke Campbell has sacrificed Christmas with his family in order to prepare as well as he can for his fight with Ryan Garcia on Saturday (DAZN).
The 22-year-old Californian will face veteran Campbell in Dallas for the WBC “interim” lightweight title.
Campbell, 33, flew from Hull to the United States to prepare for the clash, which was originally planned for early December but was pushed back because of COVID-19.
Campbell, speaking to Hull Live, said he believes it was a sacrifice worth making for his career.
“I’m a professional boxer, and this is a huge fight so I have to prepare like I would every other fight whether it’s Christmas or not,” he said. “It’s a big sacrifice to be away from my boys and my wife and family, it’s the hardest thing about what I do, but I won’t be doing this forever.
“When the fight was rearranged for January 2nd I knew what I had to do, and it’s time to take care of business, and we’ll do all the celebrating together when I come home.”
[lawrence-related id=16765,16687,16293,15765]
Campbell (20-3, 16 KOs) last fought in August 2019, when he lost a world title challenge to Vasyl Lomachenko. He does not want to let the chance of another title fight to slip through his fingers.
The winner of Campbell vs. Garcia should be in line to fight secondary WBC titleholder Devin Haney next year. Teofimo Lopez is the WBC champion.
“It’s been a frustrating year with everything, but I’ve had two fights planned that have been pulled which was frustrating,” Campbell said. “What that means is I have been through two training camps this year already and now this one, so I’m in great shape. And the fact I’ve not fought since 2019 is not a problem.
“I’ll be ready for him and I’m ready to start the new year in style.”
