LAS VEGAS – In some ways, Ryan Garcia reminds Oscar De La Hoya of himself when he was Garcia’s age.

De La Hoya had a lot of doubters, too, in part due to his good looks, disproportionately female fan base and complete confidence. The 46-year-old De La Hoya, whose company promotes Garcia, considers Garcia’s first-round knockout of Romero Duno the first significant step in the polarizing prospect proving himself to skeptics that think he is an overhyped fighter benefitting from his significant social media following.

“Ryan Garcia gave the fans an amazing performance,” De La Hoya said during a post-fight press conference at MGM Grand. “You have a fighter like Ryan, who everybody doubted. ‘Oh no, Duno is too tough. Why are you putting him with Duno?’ Because we believe in him. That’s why. Because he believes in himself. So, when he knocks him out in one round, woo, that’s a champion for you.”

The 21-year-old Garcia knocked out the Philippines’ Duno with a right hand that connected to his temple. After a delayed reaction, Duno dropped to the seat of his trunks.

A disoriented Duno attempted to get up, but referee Tony Weeks wisely stopped their fight 1:38 into the first round at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

This impressive victory gave Garcia (19-0, 16 KOs) more credibility because Duno (21-2, 16 KOs) hadn’t been stopped and is considered an above-average puncher. Garcia took a couple flush punches from an aggressive Duno before knocking him out.

“I’ve been here before many times as a fighter, where I’ve had to prove myself over and over and over and over,” said De La Hoya, a 1992 Olympic gold medalist who won world titles in six weight classes and was long boxing’s cash cow outside the heavyweight division. “And it’s a never-ending story. It’s a never-ending story because, you know, I had the gold medal, I was winning world titles, I was, I guess, better looking back then. But it was a never-ending story. ‘Well, when are you gonna fight this fighter? Well, you’re not good enough for this fighter. You have to prove yourself.’

“You know, but that’s the story of a fighter that is becoming great, that is destined to become great. And this next young man [Garcia] is going to be experiencing those same questions. And he’s going to continue to prove [himself]. And this fight tonight was a testament of his abilities, of his work ethic, of his discipline, of his desire to become great. So, I’m privileged and I’m honored to be working with a young man that has the potential to win many world titles and become the face of boxing, and so on and so on.”

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.