2021 begins with a terrible light weight battle this afternoon (Saturday, January 2, 2021) as social media sensation Ryan Garcia takes down Olympic gold medalist Luke Campbell for the provisional WBC title.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE coverage of this afternoon’s main event below. O DAZN-streamed broadcast (watch here) starts at 3 pm ET, with Garcia and Campbell probably making the walk closer to 6 pm ET.
Garcia, 22, considered by some to be one of the sport’s young talents, violently knocked out his last two opponents in 2:58. He takes a considerable step forward in the competition against Campbell, however; the Englishman’s only undefeated defeats went to the champion of the various divisions Jorge Linares, whom he fell by split decision in 2017, and to the incomparable Vasiliy Lomachenko last year.
The winner, alongside veteran Javier Fortuna, will be in line to face Devin Haney for the full WBC title. This should not be confused with the “franchise” title recently won by Teofimo Lopez. Don’t think about it too much.
In a previous action, brothers Alvarado, Rene and Felix, will defend their respective titles against Roger Gutierrez and the former minimum weight champion DeeJay Kriel. Former female WBO middleweight champion Franchon Crews-Dezurn will also be in action, facing newsman Ashleigh Curry.
Ryan Garcia vs. Luke Campbell – Garcia def. Campbell by knockout at 1:58 of round seven
Rene Alvarado v Roger Gutierrez – Gutierrez def. Approved by unanimous decision (113-112 x3)
Felix Alvarado vs. DeeJay Kriel – Alvarado def. Kriel by TKO at 1:39 of the 10th round
WBC Interim Lightweight Championship: Ryan Garcia vs. Luke Campbell
Round: Garcia strikes the body to begin. Left hook fails as he tries to descend Campbell. Campbell sends jabs too. Stuck in the corner at the beginning, he goes around and shoots the body. Good left underneath found by a Garcia punch. Good exchange and Garcia hits a cross. In the middle. Three pieces go high-low. Campbell throws a trio in return. Garcia supports him on the ropes, hits unprepared punches. Campbell digs another left for the body. Good shopping in the center and Garcia shows the language. Another body shot by Campbell. 10-9 Campbell.
Second round: Campbell with another left for the body. He’s putting the leading foot outside and hitting another. Garcia tries a 1-2-3. Jab exchange. Left hook hits him and he opens on the ropes. Campbell goes low-high with his left hand. He steps on the center ring and Garcia decks with a left overhand. It’s a very difficult knockdown, but he woke up a long time ago. Go straight up to the left, patient. Overhand falls short. Garcia hits a hook on the body. Clinch. A nice check hook connects. 10-8, 20-17 Campbell.
Round three: exchanging jabs at the start of the round. Garcia tries a 1-2, hits a right to the body. Campbell strikes the body. Looking over to the left for Campbell, who absorbs a 1-2. High-low Garcia. At half. Garcia hits a cross and eats a control hook. Shot in the body. Campbell goes low-high with his left hand. Garcia tries to open in the corner. 1-2 from Campbell. Jab, overhand came out soon after. Garcia goes to the body on the ropes. 10-9 Garcia, 29-27 Campbell.
Fourth round: Counter jab beats Garcia back. 1-2 from Campbell, clinch. The Garcia combo falls short. Campbell warned of a borderline low blow. Garcia tries a three-piece, has a two-piece round. Another body shot by Campbell received 2-3. Good 1-2 by Garcia. Campebll with another corporal blow, absorbs some rights. At half. Campbell’s body shot. Clinch. Campbell goes down again. Left counter on top. Clinch. Two more shots to the body, then another pair. Garcia shoots, known for a left to the body. 10-9, 39-36 Campbell.
Round five: fierce change in the center. Campbell with a strong punch. Closed combination mainly blocked. 1-2 for the body. Garcia goes high-low with 2-3. Campbell for the body, receives low border blows in return. Campbell tries a combination. At half. 2-3. Garcia with the right to the body. Good right leadership, left overhand back to him. Campbell’s low-high 1-2. He tries a series of lefts. Good combination of Garcia. The hard check hook on the bell visibly hurts Campbell. 10-9 Garcia, 48-46 Campbell.
Round six: Garcia coming out slugging. Long bursts. Clinch. Campbell Potshots in the center after surviving. Direct by Garcia. Land combination for Campbell. Body blows. Garcia combination blocked. In the middle. 1-2 by Garcia, who receives three of a kind in return. Campbell strikes the body. Garcia checks the hook, tries to tear it off the ropes. Campbell attacks him with an overhand left and power stroke in return. Body blow. Garcia with a hook down there. 10-9, 58-55 Campbell.
Round seven: short trade in the center to start. Campbell strikes the body. Jabs up there. Garcia hits a right cross at the guard. Both lands straight. Campbell for the body. Good left hook from Garcia, advancing on the ropes. Campbell right cross and body shot. 1-2 in half. Body shots received by a ferocious Garcia who brings the Brit to his knees. He can’t beat the count and Garcia has the knockout return.
Final result: Garcia won. Campbell by KO
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