The questions exist for all potential boxing stars. Can you take a real step forward in opposition? Can you deal with real adversity? Are you going to leave the screen and find a way to win? These questions are higher the higher the hype. Ryan Garcia was asked each of these questions against Luke Campbell in Dallas on Saturday and answered with a resounding “yes”, scoring a knockout of the body shot in the seventh round of his fight for the interim WBC lightweight championship.
Garcia established control through aggression at the start of the fight, pressing through Campbell’s jab to hit his own left hooks and right hands. Garcia’s hand speed left Campbell restless and unable to establish a clear offensive game plan. But in the second round, Campbell hit a huge left hook that shook Garcia’s head back and knocked the 22-year-old prodigy off the screen.
Garcia rose from the screen and fought until the end of the second round, composing himself in the corner before immediately establishing control of the fight once again, accumulating rounds on the scoreboard.
“I was never ruled out in my life,” said Garcia after the fight. “I think I was a little too excited about the moment. I knew I was in control and I wanted to chase him. I wanted to break him and he broke me … I was a little dizzy. I’m not going to lie. But it wasn’t that bad. “
Garcia seemed close to getting a stoppage at the end of Round 5, hitting a large left hook and right uppercut that sent Campbell stumbling over the ropes. Campbell was saved by the bell before Garcia could move on, but it seemed like it was only a matter of time before Garcia’s pressure, speed and strength ended things.
In the 7th round, Garcia closed the show, hitting an overwhelming left hook on the body. Campbell knelt after a delayed reaction, but was unable to get up when the referee’s count reached 10 to give Garcia the knockout victory at the 1:58 mark of the round.
Garcia was criticized in some corners of the boxing world for classic (good looks and promotional exaggeration) and modern reasons (status as an “influencer” of social media). The fight with Campbell, a former Olympic gold medalist and twice world title challenger who has been in the division’s elite for years, was seen by many of those critics as a major step in the competition for the young star. Campbell was not interrupted in his three previous defeats, including his recovery when he was knocked down by Vasily Lomachenko, giving Garcia a nice feather in his cap.
The rising Mexican-American star reveled in the feeling of ending these doubts during his post-fight interview.
“I think I showed many people who I really am,” said Garcia. “Entering this fight, I wanted to show people that whatever they call you, they wanted to call me a ‘social media fighter’ and a lot of things. Your teacher can call you things, your parents even, anyone who tries to put you down and say that you can’t become something. Remember, you are not who people say you are. You are who you chose to be. I chose to be a champion tonight. I wouldn’t let anything stop me, even when he brought me down. I got up. It was a good shot. I was cold and he left me. I was like, ‘Hey, I got knocked down. This is crazy. ‘ “
The lightweight division is undoubtedly the most exciting of all boxing. Young stars like Teofimo Lopez, Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Devin Haney took control with 135 pounds. Despite the achievements of everyone involved, such as Lopez defeating Lomachenko to win three of the four recognized world championships, Garcia may be the man with the most advantage based on his star power inside and outside the ring.
With the ability to call his chance, Garcia said he would like to fight Haney, but focused on Davis as his best option in the future.
“I am a man of my word,” said Garcia. “Come on, Tank. I’m ready. Come on.”
Fight card, results
- Ryan Garcia won. Luke Campbell by TKO – Round 7 to claim the provisional WBC lightweight title
- Roger Gutierrez won. Rene Alvarado (c) by unanimous decision (113-112, 113-112, 113-112) to win the WBA super featherweight title (regular)
- Felix Alvarado (c) def. DeeJay Kriel by TKO – Round 10 to retain the IBF junior flyweight title
- Raul Curiel won. Ramses Agaton by TKO – Round 2
- Sean Garcia won. Rene Marquez by majority decision (38-38, 39-37, 39-37)
Garcia vs. Campbell scorecard, live coverage
|
Garcia |
10 |
8 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
technical KO |
58 |
|||||
|
Campbell |
9 |
10 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
55 |