CARSON, CALIF - Ryan "The Flash" Garcia (15-0, 13 KOs), the 2017 consensus prospect of the year and pride of Victorville, Calif., scored a unanimous decision victory against seasoned Puerto Rican contender Jayson "La Maravilla" Velez (26-5-1, 18 KOs) to win the NABF and NABO Super Featherweight Titles on a very special May 4 edition of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN in front of a crowd of 6,625 boxing fans at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. After a hard-fought ten rounds of action, Garcia won with three scores of 99-91.
"I feel good, but I need to learn some things," said Ryan Garcia.
"I need to learn how to handle roughhousing in a tough fight like that. Either way, I'm only 19 years old, so it was a good experience. It taught me a lot. Velez was a durable guy, but I landed a lot of crazy shots as well. I thank Jayson Velez, and I will learn from this experience. I still feel I'm on the fast track to a world-title fight. I beat a guy who fought for a world title."
"I didn't think he [Garcia] would last with me, but I was proven wrong," said Jayson Velez. "He needs a little more experience, but he's going to be big. He moves well, and was able to keep up with me. He's a great opponent, and we put on a great show. I'm proud of what we did here."
In tonight co-main event, Gary "Spike" O'Sullivan (28-2, 19 KOs) scored a third-round technical knockout victory after Berlin Abreu (14-2, 12 KOs) of Rio Pierdas, Puerto Rico retired on his stool. O'Sullivan was aggressive, cut the ring, and landed hard hooks to the body and head in this middleweight fight that was initially slated for 10 rounds.
"Abreu could punch, and he caught me with a couple of good ones," said Gary O'Sullivan. "I came to do my job, and that was to get the win. This win doesn't compare to what's waiting for me - I'm waiting for my next big stage. Who knows? You might see me on the next major Mexican Holiday Weekend."
