Oscar De La Hoya would make Ryan Garcia vs. Manny Pacquiao ‘in heartbeat’

Oscar De La Hoya said he would make a fight between Ryan Garcia and Manny Pacquiao ‘in a heartbeat.’

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

***

Oscar De La Hoya would love to make a fight this year between his young contender Ryan Garcia and legendary fighter Manny Pacquiao.

Pacquiao could fight Conor McGregor before the end of the year and perhaps take one more fight before he retires to focus on politics in his native Philippines. He’s a senator.

“I would make that in a heartbeat,” said De La Hoya told Snowqueen LA. “I would literally make that fight. And I would make that fight at the end of this year or the first quarter of next year.

“I love that fight for Ryan. That takes Ryan to a whole another level. When you’re inside fighting with a legend, it’s kind of like changing of the guards. When I fought Floyd Mayweather, and he beat me, Floyd Mayweather skyrocketed to superstardom. …”

“And when Manny Pacquiao fought me and beat me, he skyrocketed to superstardom. This would be the same thing. It would be the changing of the guard for Ryan Garcia and Manny Pacquiao.”

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De La Hoya believes that anyone considering a fight with Garcia should act quickly because he’s getting better every day.

“Ryan Garcia, the longer people wait to fight him, the longer these fights take to happen, the more dangerous he’s going to get,” De La Hoya said. “Ryan Garcia, he wants Tank Davis tomorrow.

“He wants to fight and he says he’ll knock him out in two rounds, and we’re going to push for that fight because that’s what he wants. If for some reason it doesn’t get made, the more time that passes by, Ryan Garcia gets better and better.

“He’s going to become a force that is going to be unstoppable. When he tightens up his defense, when he gets stronger. He hasn’t developed his man strength yet, and he’s already very strong. His speed is impeccable.

“Yeah, I want that fight (Davis vs. Garcia) to happen, but if for some reason it doesn’t happen and it happens down the road … the more time that passes the better the chances for Ryan against anyone.”

De La Hoya added that Garcia is unusual beyond his ability.

“Ryan Garcia is a special fighter inside and outside of the ring,” De La Hoya said.  “If you put together an Elvis Presley and Brad Pitt, a Canelo Alvarez, and Oscar De La Hoya, you have Ryan Garcia

“If Ryan can somehow defeat Pacquiao, it’ll take his career to the next level. He’ll be transformed into a star overnight.”

 

Oscar De La Hoya would make Ryan Garcia vs. Manny Pacquiao ‘in heartbeat’

Oscar De La Hoya said he would make a fight between Ryan Garcia and Manny Pacquiao ‘in a heartbeat.’

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

***

Oscar De La Hoya would love to make a fight this year between his young contender Ryan Garcia and legendary fighter Manny Pacquiao.

Pacquiao could fight Conor McGregor before the end of the year and perhaps take one more fight before he retires to focus on politics in his native Philippines. He’s a senator.

“I would make that in a heartbeat,” said De La Hoya told Snowqueen LA. “I would literally make that fight. And I would make that fight at the end of this year or the first quarter of next year.

“I love that fight for Ryan. That takes Ryan to a whole another level. When you’re inside fighting with a legend, it’s kind of like changing of the guards. When I fought Floyd Mayweather, and he beat me, Floyd Mayweather skyrocketed to superstardom. …”

“And when Manny Pacquiao fought me and beat me, he skyrocketed to superstardom. This would be the same thing. It would be the changing of the guard for Ryan Garcia and Manny Pacquiao.”

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De La Hoya believes that anyone considering a fight with Garcia should act quickly because he’s getting better every day.

“Ryan Garcia, the longer people wait to fight him, the longer these fights take to happen, the more dangerous he’s going to get,” De La Hoya said. “Ryan Garcia, he wants Tank Davis tomorrow.

“He wants to fight and he says he’ll knock him out in two rounds, and we’re going to push for that fight because that’s what he wants. If for some reason it doesn’t get made, the more time that passes by, Ryan Garcia gets better and better.

“He’s going to become a force that is going to be unstoppable. When he tightens up his defense, when he gets stronger. He hasn’t developed his man strength yet, and he’s already very strong. His speed is impeccable.

“Yeah, I want that fight (Davis vs. Garcia) to happen, but if for some reason it doesn’t happen and it happens down the road … the more time that passes the better the chances for Ryan against anyone.”

De La Hoya added that Garcia is unusual beyond his ability.

“Ryan Garcia is a special fighter inside and outside of the ring,” De La Hoya said.  “If you put together an Elvis Presley and Brad Pitt, a Canelo Alvarez, and Oscar De La Hoya, you have Ryan Garcia

“If Ryan can somehow defeat Pacquiao, it’ll take his career to the next level. He’ll be transformed into a star overnight.”

 

Ryan Garcia prepared to fight Conor McGregor in move to MMA

Ryan Garcia says he’ll box until he’s 26 and then consider moving to MMA, in which he might fight Conor McGregor.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

***

Ryan Garcia has announced that he will retire from boxing by the time he’s 26 and then move on to MMA.

The 22-year-old lightweight is focused on boxing at the moment. “King Ryan” is coming off a one-punch knockout of Luke Campbell on Jan. 2. Now he has his sights set on Gervonta Davis, Devin Haney or other big-name fighters for his next assignment.

However, speaking on the Rich Eisen Show, he suggested that the long-term plan could look different than might be expected.

“You know what I’m willing to do? And I haven’t said this out loud. Say at 26 I’m done, I’ve retired from boxing. You know what I’ll do?” he said.

“If someone says I’ve beaten everybody in the ring, I’ll go prove to them that I’m the best all-round fighter in the world. I’m talking about hands, I’m talking about wrestling.

“I will go to MMA to prove a point that God is greatest. And I’ll go beat whoever it is in MMA they say I won’t beat. If it has to be Conor McGregor, I will.

“I’m not saying this to get money, I don’t care about money. I’m saying this because that’s how I feel.”

Garcia has suggested that another option for late this year or early 2022 is Manny Pacquiao, the iconic welterweight titleholder. The young Californian sees it as a changing-of-the-guard matchup.

Garcia about that prospect: “Maybe after Gervonta, hopefully, this is out of respect. … Can we share that ring together and please pass that torch to me?”

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Ryan Garcia prepared to fight Conor McGregor in move to MMA

Ryan Garcia says he’ll box until he’s 26 and then consider moving to MMA, in which he might fight Conor McGregor.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

***

Ryan Garcia has announced that he will retire from boxing by the time he’s 26 and then move on to MMA.

The 22-year-old lightweight is focused on boxing at the moment. “King Ryan” is coming off a one-punch knockout of Luke Campbell on Jan. 2. Now he has his sights set on Gervonta Davis, Devin Haney or other big-name fighters for his next assignment.

However, speaking on the Rich Eisen Show, he suggested that the long-term plan could look different than might be expected.

“You know what I’m willing to do? And I haven’t said this out loud. Say at 26 I’m done, I’ve retired from boxing. You know what I’ll do?” he said.

“If someone says I’ve beaten everybody in the ring, I’ll go prove to them that I’m the best all-round fighter in the world. I’m talking about hands, I’m talking about wrestling.

“I will go to MMA to prove a point that God is greatest. And I’ll go beat whoever it is in MMA they say I won’t beat. If it has to be Conor McGregor, I will.

“I’m not saying this to get money, I don’t care about money. I’m saying this because that’s how I feel.”

Garcia has suggested that another option for late this year or early 2022 is Manny Pacquiao, the iconic welterweight titleholder. The young Californian sees it as a changing-of-the-guard matchup.

Garcia about that prospect: “Maybe after Gervonta, hopefully, this is out of respect. … Can we share that ring together and please pass that torch to me?”

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Eddy Reynoso: Ryan Garcia proved that he’s a ‘true warrior’

Trainer Eddy Reynoso said that Ryan Garcia proved against Luke Campbell that he’s a “true warrior.”

Eddy Reynoso, Ryan Garcia’s trainer, had a word to describe Garcia’s performance against Luke Campbell this past Saturday in Dallas: “Spectacular.”

Reynoso wasn’t talking about the body shot that took Campbell out in the seventh round, though. He was referring to fortitude his protégé demonstrated by rising from a second-round knockdown to get the job done in his biggest fight.

The trainer spoke to Boxing Junkie through a translator on Thursday.

“I told him in the locker room [afterward]: ‘I don’t just like that you won the fight. I like the balls you demonstrated in the ring. That’s what I’m happy with,” he said.

“I got worried a lot,” he went on, referring to the second-round knockdown. “When you have a fighter who, for all intents and purposes, is a novice who has won all his recent fights by knockout, you don’t know how he’ll react in a situation like that.

“I liked his reaction. He’s a true warrior.”

Trainer Eddy Reynoso (right) said that Ryan Garcia would be ready to face anyone if he has enough time to prepare. Tim Warner / Getty Images 

Reynoso hasn’t hesitated to say that Garcia, 22, is a work in progress. Campbell was his first elite opponent, after all.

The product of Victorville, Calif., has unusual qualities – his quickness and power, for example – but many observers thought he looked like a developing boxer in the Campbell fight, meaning he still has a lot of work to do.

Reynoso is OK with that assessment.

“Yes, Ryan still has a lot of experience to gain,” he said. “He made some mistakes, mistakes that we will fix. He’s only 22. He’s going to keep learning. He’s very smart. He’s still kind of a novice. But who’s not a novice at his age?

“We’re going to continue to work hard and fix his errors in the ring.”

Reynoso and Garcia might not have a lot of time to do that.

Garcia called out Gervonta Davis during his post-fight interview on Saturday. He also mentioned Devin Haney, another top lightweight. He clearly isn’t interested in picking low-hanging fruit. He thinks big.

Reynoso was asked whether it might be too early for that kind of challenge. First, he applauded the top 135-pounders – Davis, Haney, Teofimo Lopez, Garcia – for stirring the pot by calling one another out. That generates anticipation and excitement.

And, second, while Reynoso acknowledges that Garcia is still evolving as a fighter, he believes the young man could compete with anyone if given enough time to prepare.

“Ryan is getting to that place where he can take on any challengers,” Reynoso said. “… He has something very special; with one punch he could knock anyone out. He still has things to learn. We have to work on defense, we have to work on the way he attacks his opponent.

“But he’s on a good path. If I was told tomorrow that we have to fight Davis or Haney or Lopez, I would ask only one thing: a training camp of three, four months. Then I feel strongly that he would be prepared to fight anyone.”

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Eddy Reynoso: Ryan Garcia proved that he’s a ‘true warrior’

Trainer Eddy Reynoso said that Ryan Garcia proved against Luke Campbell that he’s a “true warrior.”

Eddy Reynoso, Ryan Garcia’s trainer, had a word to describe Garcia’s performance against Luke Campbell this past Saturday in Dallas: “Spectacular.”

Reynoso wasn’t talking about the body shot that took Campbell out in the seventh round, though. He was referring to fortitude his protégé demonstrated by rising from a second-round knockdown to get the job done in his biggest fight.

The trainer spoke to Boxing Junkie through a translator on Thursday.

“I told him in the locker room [afterward]: ‘I don’t just like that you won the fight. I like the balls you demonstrated in the ring. That’s what I’m happy with,” he said.

“I got worried a lot,” he went on, referring to the second-round knockdown. “When you have a fighter who, for all intents and purposes, is a novice who has won all his recent fights by knockout, you don’t know how he’ll react in a situation like that.

“I liked his reaction. He’s a true warrior.”

Trainer Eddy Reynoso (right) said that Ryan Garcia would be ready to face anyone if he has enough time to prepare. Tim Warner / Getty Images 

Reynoso hasn’t hesitated to say that Garcia, 22, is a work in progress. Campbell was his first elite opponent, after all.

The product of Victorville, Calif., has unusual qualities – his quickness and power, for example – but many observers thought he looked like a developing boxer in the Campbell fight, meaning he still has a lot of work to do.

Reynoso is OK with that assessment.

“Yes, Ryan still has a lot of experience to gain,” he said. “He made some mistakes, mistakes that we will fix. He’s only 22. He’s going to keep learning. He’s very smart. He’s still kind of a novice. But who’s not a novice at his age?

“We’re going to continue to work hard and fix his errors in the ring.”

Reynoso and Garcia might not have a lot of time to do that.

Garcia called out Gervonta Davis during his post-fight interview on Saturday. He also mentioned Devin Haney, another top lightweight. He clearly isn’t interested in picking low-hanging fruit. He thinks big.

Reynoso was asked whether it might be too early for that kind of challenge. First, he applauded the top 135-pounders – Davis, Haney, Teofimo Lopez, Garcia – for stirring the pot by calling one another out. That generates anticipation and excitement.

And, second, while Reynoso acknowledges that Garcia is still evolving as a fighter, he believes the young man could compete with anyone if given enough time to prepare.

“Ryan is getting to that place where he can take on any challengers,” Reynoso said. “… He has something very special; with one punch he could knock anyone out. He still has things to learn. We have to work on defense, we have to work on the way he attacks his opponent.

“But he’s on a good path. If I was told tomorrow that we have to fight Davis or Haney or Lopez, I would ask only one thing: a training camp of three, four months. Then I feel strongly that he would be prepared to fight anyone.”

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WBC set to order title fight between Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman is set to order a lightweight title fight between Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia.

Ryan Garcia will fight Devin Haney next if the WBC has its way.

Garcia won the sanctioning body’s “interim” lightweight title by stopping Luke Campbell in the seventh round on Saturday in Dallas. Haney is designated as the WBC titleholder even though Teofimo Lopez sits above him as “franchise” champion.

Yes, it’s confusing.

WBC President said on The Ak & Barak Show that he will order a fight between Garcia and Haney for Haney’s belt, which would at least eliminate one of the three 135-pounders who wear the green belt.

“First, the WBC always allows three, four days or one week after an event for the fighter to settle down, to enjoy the moment, to celebrate a victory, instead of shooting them immediately a letter of work,” Sulaiman said.

“So we will take a couple of days. Now we’re starting the year, and next what goes out is the letter to both camps to begin the negotiations for the fight.”

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That doesn’t necessarily mean that Garcia (21-0, 18 KOs) will fight Haney (25-0, 15 KOs) in his next fight. Garcia has repeatedly called out another secondary titleholder, Gervonta Davis. And Garcia’s team might decide not to jump directly into a difficult fight.

Garcia spoke to TalkSport before the Campbell fight.

“I’m gonna be quite honest: I wanna fight Gervonta next,” he said. “That’s who I want, I wanna take on that man. I’ve been calling it for a while and that’s the fight. That’s the fight that would make me great.

“That’s the fight that will complete the puzzle that I have put together. That’s who I want and that’s who I’m gonna be striving to get. I’m gonna give the people what they want, and I’m gonna put a whooping on him, I promise you that.

“Everybody’s scared, everybody fears something about that man. And to me it’s gonna be as easy as anything. It’s gonna be as easy as singing my ABCs. I promise you that’s the fight that’s gonna shock the world. I’ve been saying it from the beginning, I wanna shock the world.

“That’s who I’m coming after, big, bad ‘Tank,’ the man who hits so hard, the man that crushes people’s face in. That’s the fight that I wanna show everybody who I really am. After that I wanna fight Teofimo Lopez or Devin Haney or anybody. I don’t really care after that.

“Nobody matters as much as that fight with ‘Tank’. That’s the main fight.”

WBC set to order title fight between Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman is set to order a lightweight title fight between Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia.

Ryan Garcia will fight Devin Haney next if the WBC has its way.

Garcia won the sanctioning body’s “interim” lightweight title by stopping Luke Campbell in the seventh round on Saturday in Dallas. Haney is designated as the WBC titleholder even though Teofimo Lopez sits above him as “franchise” champion.

Yes, it’s confusing.

WBC President said on The Ak & Barak Show that he will order a fight between Garcia and Haney for Haney’s belt, which would at least eliminate one of the three 135-pounders who wear the green belt.

“First, the WBC always allows three, four days or one week after an event for the fighter to settle down, to enjoy the moment, to celebrate a victory, instead of shooting them immediately a letter of work,” Sulaiman said.

“So we will take a couple of days. Now we’re starting the year, and next what goes out is the letter to both camps to begin the negotiations for the fight.”

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That doesn’t necessarily mean that Garcia (21-0, 18 KOs) will fight Haney (25-0, 15 KOs) in his next fight. Garcia has repeatedly called out another secondary titleholder, Gervonta Davis. And Garcia’s team might decide not to jump directly into a difficult fight.

Garcia spoke to TalkSport before the Campbell fight.

“I’m gonna be quite honest: I wanna fight Gervonta next,” he said. “That’s who I want, I wanna take on that man. I’ve been calling it for a while and that’s the fight. That’s the fight that would make me great.

“That’s the fight that will complete the puzzle that I have put together. That’s who I want and that’s who I’m gonna be striving to get. I’m gonna give the people what they want, and I’m gonna put a whooping on him, I promise you that.

“Everybody’s scared, everybody fears something about that man. And to me it’s gonna be as easy as anything. It’s gonna be as easy as singing my ABCs. I promise you that’s the fight that’s gonna shock the world. I’ve been saying it from the beginning, I wanna shock the world.

“That’s who I’m coming after, big, bad ‘Tank,’ the man who hits so hard, the man that crushes people’s face in. That’s the fight that I wanna show everybody who I really am. After that I wanna fight Teofimo Lopez or Devin Haney or anybody. I don’t really care after that.

“Nobody matters as much as that fight with ‘Tank’. That’s the main fight.”

Ryan Garcia-Luke Campbell deal appears to have been finalized

Ryan Garcia vs. Luke Campbell is on. The only essential elements missing are signatures on contracts.

Ryan Garcia vs. Luke Campbell is on. The only essential elements missing are signatures on contracts.

Garcia tweeted on Wednesday that he’s “positive” the deal is done for a WBC “interim” lightweight title fight between and the 2012 Olympic gold medalist in mid- to late-November somewhere in the United States.

“I’m Positive I got a fight with luke Campbell FINALLY DONE! Wooooo about time we sign some papers,” Garcia tweeted.

The agreement puts to rest a second purse bid ordered by the WBC, the result of ongoing talks. Eddie Hearn, Campbell’s promoter, provided confirmation.

“To give everyone a bit of clarity, we had some issues with the contract we sent to Golden Boy,” Hearn said via BoxingScene.com. “The fight will take place in America. Robert [Diaz] and [Golden Boy President] Eric Gomez will work on that. The date will be middle-to-end of November.”

Garcia (20-0, 17 KOs) is one of the fastest rising stars in boxing, coming off two consecutive first-round knockouts.

The Los Angeles-area fighter will face his biggest test in Campbell (20-3, 16 KOs). The native of Hull, England has twice fought for major titles, losing decisions to Jorge Linares and Vasiliy Lomachenko in August.

The winner of the Garcia-Campbell fight is expected to face Devin Haney for what the WBC is calling a world title. Lomachenko is the sanctioning body’s “franchise” 135-pound champion.

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Ryan Garcia-Luke Campbell deal appears to have been finalized

Ryan Garcia vs. Luke Campbell is on. The only essential elements missing are signatures on contracts.

Ryan Garcia vs. Luke Campbell is on. The only essential elements missing are signatures on contracts.

Garcia tweeted on Wednesday that he’s “positive” the deal is done for a WBC “interim” lightweight title fight between and the 2012 Olympic gold medalist in mid- to late-November somewhere in the United States.

“I’m Positive I got a fight with luke Campbell FINALLY DONE! Wooooo about time we sign some papers,” Garcia tweeted.

The agreement puts to rest a second purse bid ordered by the WBC, the result of ongoing talks. Eddie Hearn, Campbell’s promoter, provided confirmation.

“To give everyone a bit of clarity, we had some issues with the contract we sent to Golden Boy,” Hearn said via BoxingScene.com. “The fight will take place in America. Robert [Diaz] and [Golden Boy President] Eric Gomez will work on that. The date will be middle-to-end of November.”

Garcia (20-0, 17 KOs) is one of the fastest rising stars in boxing, coming off two consecutive first-round knockouts.

The Los Angeles-area fighter will face his biggest test in Campbell (20-3, 16 KOs). The native of Hull, England has twice fought for major titles, losing decisions to Jorge Linares and Vasiliy Lomachenko in August.

The winner of the Garcia-Campbell fight is expected to face Devin Haney for what the WBC is calling a world title. Lomachenko is the sanctioning body’s “franchise” 135-pound champion.

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