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What’s Next for Ryan Garcia? 

  • January 27,2021 ​

John Talag 

Reigning WBC interim lightweight champion Ryan Garcia faced Luke Campell in a boxing match on January 2, 2021. Ryan Garcia won the fight by a technical knockout, hitting Campell with a deadly left hook to the body in the seventh round. Statistics from CompuBox revealed that Garcia beat Campell 94 to 74 (34%) in total punches and 77 to 51 (44%) in power punches. However, Campbell outdid Garcia in jabs 23 to 17 (15%). Tenth-grade student-athlete Prabhdeep Dubb gave his thoughts on the Garcia-Campell match.

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Photo obtained from cdph.ca.gov

“While watching the fight, I already knew that there would be a 99.9% chance of Garcia winning since he is talked about so highly from many different influencers and analysts. I wasn’t worried at all that Campell would upset Garcia. When Garcia got knocked down, however, it really caught me off guard. It was crazy!” Dubb remarked. 

In the second round, Campbell hit Garcia with an overhand left punch, knocking down Garcia in the process. It was the first time Garcia was knocked down in his career. Tenth-grade boxing fan Lance Viernes believed that Garcia’s knockdown was a much-needed wake-up call for the interim lightweight champion.

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“When Garcia got knocked down to the floor, I jumped right out of my chair. Garcia has a chance to be one of the greatest boxers ever, but he seriously needs to improve his defense. Maybe move his head a little, or even learn a thing or two from his hero Canelo. But man, that was an absolute bruh moment!" Viernes joked. 

Photo obtained from youtube.com

Ryan Garcia is triumphant in his professional boxing career with a record 21-0, with 18 of his wins by knockout.  However on January 24, 2021, Garcia announced on his Instagram that he will fight one of the greatest professional boxers, Manny Pacquaio.

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In the comments section of the Instagram announcement, Garcia put out, “It would be impossible to get to everyone but I just want to say thank you for the support since the beginning when I was that Kid in the Garage in Victorville to now this. The journey continues thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

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Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao has a record of 62-7-2, having 39 of his wins by knockout. Pacquiao is the only boxer in history to be an octuple champion, winning world titles in eight weight divisions. Additionally, Pacquiao is the first in history to win major world titles in all of the "glamour divisions" (flyweight, featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight). He is also the only boxer to become a world champion spanning four decades, from the 1990s to the 2020s. 

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Manny Pacquaio is seen as the best active professional boxer on major sporting and boxing websites such as ESPN, Sports Illustrated, BoxRec, and The Ring. Pacquiao’s last boxing match was against Keith Thurman on July 21, 2019, where he won the WBA welterweight title in a split-decision. 

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As of yet, a weight class has not been determined for the fight, but Garcia would have to bulk up to compare to Pacquiao’s 147-pound stature. Pacquiao, at 42 years old, is in the last stage of his career, but a fight against the caliber of an up and coming star like Garcia guarantees a grand payday. Garcia has done wonders in his young career, but he has a lot to work upon to defeat one of the greatest boxers of all time. 

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