Ryan Garcia plans to show off everything he’s learned and worked on during his training camp under the direction of new head trainer Joe Goossen.
The first opportunity will come April 9, when the unbeaten lightweight faces Ghana’s Emmanuel Tagoe (32-1, 15KOs) in a DAZN main event from Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The fight will be the first for Garcia (21-0, 18KOs) in more than fifteen months, though the concern of ring rust is trumped by the confidence in muscle memory and years of grinding in the game.
“I’ve been doing this since I was seven years old. I know the sacrifices, the discipline it takes,” Garcia noted in discussing the fight and his belief of preserving his unblemished record. “What makes me so confident is, I’ve been in the ring so many times. Over 200 amateur fights, I’ve already had 21 professional fights.
“I’ve been in these camps, obviously with Canelo [Alvarez] and others. I’m very comfortable in the ring. I’m very comfortable with how I fight. I know that whoever’s in front of me, it will not be easy. That’s for sure. Whether this is a quick or long fight, I will be ready.”
Garcia’s previous ring appearance also took place in Texas. The rising star from Victorville, California recovered from a second-round knockdown to score a sensational seventh-round knockout of 2012 Olympic Gold medalist and former title challenge Luke Campbell last January at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The event was restricted by social distancing measures, managing to sell all available inventory for the show.
The attention garnered from the event dramatically increased Garcia’s already exceedingly high popularity, particularly among young demographics not otherwise paying attention to the sport. The downside was that the rest of the year saw that momentum squandered and brought to a screeching halt, as Garcia opted to take a mental health break last summer and then endured a wrist injury requiring surgery which canceled a scheduled fight with Joseph ‘JoJo’ Diaz that instead went to WBC lightweight titlist Devin Haney (27-0, 15KOs).
Back at full strength and with a clear mind, Garcia moves forward with his career and with a new team in tow.
The fight with Tagoe—who has won 32 in a row since losing his pro debut nearly 18 years ago—will be Garcia’s first following his departure from Eddy Reynoso’s camp. Reynoso—best known for his career-long work with pound-for-pound king and global superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (57-1-2, 39KOs) served as Garcia’s head trainer since October 2018, with Garcia winning all five fights by knockout under his tutelage.
Expectations are to continue that knockout streak, even under new guidance.
“Emmanuel Tagoe, he has to go,” Garcia quipped, though acknowledging he doesn’t expect an easy night in the ring. “Tagoe is a legitimate contender. Nothing but respect for him. He has a great opportunity here as well. This can make him or break him. I'm expecting a dogfight.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox