Ryan Garcia said he’d beat Luke Campbell “relatively easy.” Campbell said his young rival would be taking a significant step up in class and would pay a price.
Yes, the Garcia-Campbell talk is heating up even though they have yet to sign contracts finalizing an agreed-upon deal to fight for the WBC “interim” lightweight title sometime in November in either the U.S. or U.K.
Garcia (20-0, 17 KOs) would indeed be facing his toughest opponent if he tangles with Campbell, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist from England who is coming off a unanimous-decision loss to WBC “franchise” champion Vasiliy Lomachenko in August.
Still, the 22-year-old from the Los Angeles area, coming off back-to-back first-round knockouts, exudes confidence.
“I hope to get this fight with Luke Campbell made,” Garcia said. “This should show people that I’m not all talk. I want the good guys at lightweight. All these other fighters, they’re talking a lot, talking a lot, but I see who they’re fighting.
“They’re not going to fight anybody like I’m going to do against Luke Campbell, you know what I’m saying? Just look at the facts. I’m gonna fight Luke Campbell and I’m gonna show the people I will beat him, and relatively easy.
“But I cannot wait for this opportunity. I’m here to show the world I’m a great fighter. This is the time to do it. Hopefully we get this fight made.”
Campbell (20-3, 16 KOs) has said, in so many words, that Garcia should be careful what he wishes for.
Yes, the unbeaten contender has looked impressive. However, he hasn’t faced top-tier opposition. And Campbell suggested that choosing him as his step-up opponent could come back to haunt him.
“Who am I to say it’s too early or it isn’t? I guess we’ll soon find out,” Campbell told Sky Sports. “He hasn’t had a real test. That’s not his fault. He’s been guarded by his promotional team, who have built him up to what he is now, which is a hell of a name.
“But it’s certainly a big leap from where he’s been to getting in the ring with me.”
Campbell spoke about the difference between him and Garcia, who has built a tremendous social media following and is already making good money. Campbell was still an amateur at 22.
“Everybody is on their own path,” Campbell said. “He is doing it differently. He’s in a position that I was never in, at his age. When I was 22, I had £30 ($39) per month to live on. He’s driving around in a Lambourghini.
“I had nothing, I was broke after paying for fuel to get to training camps. But that’s part of the journey. It doesn’t mean you can question his hunger. I’m sure he has hunger and goals. I never grasped things straight away. It always took me longer. But when I got it …”
Campbell said he doesn’t care where the fight takes place.
“I’ll make a real impact regardless of whether it’s there or here,” he said. “When I beat him, which I will do, that will cause an impact. Then I want the next best one. I want to fight the best.
“He’s an exciting fighter with a hell of a following. He has power and carries speed. Everybody is talking about him and he’s ranked very highly but this is my opportunity to stamp my name in the division.”
Next step: sign the contracts.
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