Oscar De La Hoya has looked back on Ryan Garcia’s preparation for the Gervonta Davis fight and highlighted one ‘big concern.’
The pair locked horns in Las Vegas this month to deliver one of the most financially successful boxing events in recent memory. Unfortunately for Garcia, he was on the losing end, giving in to a seventh round body shot from Baltimore’s ‘Tank.’
His promoter, De La Hoya, told Fight Hub TV that a nine month lay off prior to the bout was a problem.
“I had no clue whatsoever that he had a rib injury or whatever. I was wondering why he didn’t take the January fight. That was a huge concern, first of all, for him not to take that fight. That was huge.”
“How can you keep a car idle in a garage and not turn it on for several months, and then think you’re going to run the race at the Daytona 500? It’s impossible. So that was a big concern for me.”
‘King’ Ryan was touted to face Mercito Guesta within the same timeline that Davis was sharpening his skills against Hector Luis Garcia on January 7.
At the time, Garcia said the decision to forego the fight was in favour of the fans, and that he wanted to go straight in against ‘Tank’ rather than take a ‘tune-up.’ He also revealed that it was only the other side who were keen to have the fights in between.
De La Hoya’s comments point to that idea that he may have been nursing an injury to his ribs – something he mentioned to his trainer, Joe Goossen, after the Davis loss – as far back as the start of the year.
Whatever the case was, the records have been amended and Garcia won’t return to the ring undefeated. He’s said to be moving up to a more comfortable 140lb, but will have to find a new trainer first.