The common theme throughout the promotion for his next ring appearance is the amount of pain Ryan Garcia intends to inflict once the opening bell sounds.
It has been suggested at every turn by the unbeaten 22-year old lightweight, who next faces England’s Luke Campbell (20-3, 16KOs) this Saturday, live on DAZN from American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Most observers have the fight as García’s toughest test to date, but the rising contender scoffs nearly to the point of being insulted at the mere suggestion.
“I’m going into this fight thinking one thing—punishing him,” Garcia insisted during a recent segment of Golden Boy Promotions’ Mano-A-Mano series on the company’s Facebook channel. “I’m not thinking about anything else but punishing Luke Campbell.”
Garcia (20-0, 17KOs) believes to have found his man-strength, having stopped each of his past four opponents—all coming under the tutelage of renowned trainer Eddy Reynoso since the two hooked up in 2018. The budding star from Victorville, California enters this weekend’s bout having scored back-to-back 1st round knockouts, including an 80-second dusting of Francisco Fonseca last Valentine’s Day in Anaheim, California.
Still, there remain industry skeptics who dismiss García as just another pretty face, a media creation who they claim is better known for his social media presence than his in-ring skills.
With that comes the opportunity to dismiss that claim—all while taking it out on an established contender in Campbell, a 2012 Olympic Gold medalist and former two-time title challenger from Hull, England.
“I’m coming to get my respect,” vows García. “I’m coming with these right hands. You’re gonna keep tasting these left hooks. I’m gonna make you bleed and bleed and bleed until your corner better throw in the towel—or else I’m gonna make you pay.
“Eddie Hearn (Campbell’s promoter) made a big mistake. You underestimated me. You think I’m average? Just know, I’m gonna beat the living shit out of Luke Campbell and show you how not average I am.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox