The lightweight division is arguably the most exciting in boxing and Ryan Garcia might just turn out to be the most talented of them all.
He returns to the ring after a 15-month absence in San Antonio this weekend against Ghana’s Emmanuel Tagoe. It’s a big moment for Garcia who is returning after injury and mental health issues. He has changed trainers, swapping Canelo’s Reynoso stable for Joe Goosen.
Tagoe, like all the Accra-born boxers is a tough hombre. Garcia has taken this fight at a catchweight 139 pounds, a trade off to get solid rounds against an experienced fighter with only one defeat. Garcia was outstanding in his last fight against Luke Campbell. He was dropped in the second but resumed his feet and got through the round.
He said Luke hit him harder than anybody he has faced. His recovery said a lot about him. He can really hit and is very quick. Anyone can go over if caught clean. It’s about how you respond. He started to turn it on and stopped Campbell in the seventh. He is a go-getter, and great to watch.
After Vasyl Lomachenko’s defeat to Teofimo Lopez, Gervonata Davs is arguably the standard bearer in the lightweight division and the obvious target for Garcia. For now I would leave Davis alone. Devon Haney and George Kombosos are both better options but harder to make.
I know Haney beat him as an amateur but as a pro it’s different. I give Garcia a great chance against Kombosos or Haney. Kombosos is tough and exciting but he is not a great puncher. Loma is exceptional, obviously, but he has been beaten.
The man who dethroned him, Lopez, has already moved up after his own shock defeat to Kombosos. Garcia says he is happy at either 135 pounds or at super lightweight. He is only a pup. The important thing for him is to keep busy.
Before the fight with Campbell I watched him getting his hands wrapped. I liked his demeanour. The one question mark is his mental health. This fight should give him rounds and confidence.
Tagoe is strong, takes a great shot and comes to fight. But Garcia is a throwback, a modern day Carlos Palomino or Oscar de la Hoya with Hollywood looks. In other words a superstar-in-the-making. It is brilliant for boxing to have a kid with that kind of appeal ready to set the agenda.
Follow Barry on Twitter at @ClonesCyclone @McGuigans_Gym @CyclonePromo
