Emmanuel Tagoe has waited his entire pro career and more than half his life for the opportunity that lies ahead.
The 33-year-old lightweight contender from Accra, Ghana is a considerable underdog to extend his current 32-fight win streak through his next fight, a dangerous showdown with unbeaten Ryan Garcia. The two will collide atop an April 9 DAZN show from Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, with both coming off year-plus long layoffs.
Garcia (21-0, 18KOs) enters nearly ten years Tagoe’s junior and as the higher ranked contender and far better-known commodity. The 23-year-old from Victorville, California will also enter the ring with his third head trainer as a pro, working with Joe Goossen after having spent the past three-plus years with Eddy Reynoso.
“Ryan Garcia knows he’s facing the best. That’s why he changed his coach,” Tagoe insisted. “He’s facing this tough guy from Ghana. That’s why he changed his coach.”
Tagoe (32-1, 15KOs) remains under the tutelage of 2021 Trainer of the Year nominee Javiel Centeno, best known for his work with lineal/WBA/IBF/WBO lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr. (20-0, 10KOs) and red-hot junior middleweight prospect Xander Zayas (13-0, 9KOs). The 18-year veteran—whose only career defeat came in his pro debut in 2004 at age 15 has gained valuable knowledge while training out Centeno's Sweatbox Boxing Gym in South Florida, though still in search of a career-defining win.
The expectation is to secure that feat in April.
“This is a showcase for me to show my skills to everyone,” claims Tagoe, who is a +750 underdog according to FanDuel Sportsbook, which has Garcia listed as a -1000 favorite. “I know people don’t know me. For this fight, people ask ‘Who is this guy?’
“That’s why I asked for Ryan Garcia for this fight. I know he’s a good boxer. But he is not my style.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
