When Ryan Garcia entered the ring, Javier Fortuna vowed to show that Garcia was overrated. Fortuna's foresight proved to be inadequate, however, as Garcia controlled the fight from the off and shocked the spectators at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles by knocking him out in the sixth round.
Fortuna (37-4-1, 26 KO) had to cope with Garcia's length as the 23-year-old worked behind a stiff jab and long, straight right punches in the fight. As a result, Fortuna (37-4-1, 26 KO) was never able to get anything going offensively.
Garcia's (23-0, 19 KO) steady long-range approach was highly effective as Fortuna's guard gradually rose to reveal his ribs. In the fourth round, Garcia took advantage of it by unleashing a punishing left hook to the body that sent Fortuna reeling before he took a knee for the fight's first knockdown.
In the fifth round, Fortuna's situation didn't improve as Garcia's left hand switched from the body to the head. When one of those left hooks caught Fortuna flush, it knocked him to the ground for the second time in the fight. The experienced boxer from the Dominican Republic suffered severe pain when he hit the ground.
Moments into the sixth round, Garcia landed a three-punch combination that included a left hook and knocked Fortuna to the ground once more. This was the fight's third and last knockdown. At the 0:27 second mark of the round, Fortuna did not stand up this time, and Garcia was given the knockout victory.
RYAN GARCIA ENDS IT 🧨#GarciaFortuna pic.twitter.com/yiXv4kGkp0
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) July 17, 2022
The Fortuna camp requested that the bout be held at super lightweight even though both boxers typically campaign at lightweight. Garcia made it plain following the fight that he would not be moving back to the lightweight class since he felt so at ease there.
Garcia is still focused on a huge bout with Gervonta "Tank" Davis, one of the other rising lightweight stars, for his next fight, despite what he claims is a permanent shift up in weight.
Garcia remarked, "100%, I felt a lot better." "I'm not returning to 135 for nothing, but my next opponent will be "Tank." At 140 if "Tank" wants it. Hey, I'm going to videotape every conversation so that you guys won't claim I'm dodging in the press. Let's grab it if he wants it. That will get me the respect I merit. Never am I terrified. I've previously claimed to possess a competitive spirit. That will be evident when I battle Tank and whoop his ass."
While competing in the lightweight class with other rising talents like Teofimo Lopez, who just moved up to the 140-pound division, and Devin Haney, another fighter, Garcia, and Davis have long discussed a prospective matchup.
Davis has competed in the super lightweight category, where he defeated Mario Barrios in a thrilling victory to claim the WBA's secondary championship, but it's unclear if he would be willing to return considering that he is just five feet five inches tall. The outcome of the fight also depends on the ability of multiple networks and promoters to come to an amicable agreement.
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