Promoter Eddie Hearn has weighed in on one of the hottest debates in boxing – did Ryan Garcia ‘quit’ against Gervonta Davis?
The 24-year-old lost to Davis by stoppage in Las Vegas recently, putting an end to the biggest boxing event of the year.
After being dropped in the second round, Garcia fought a little tentatively until the seventh, when he came forward and was hit with a crisp liver shot.
He stumbled back from ‘Tank’s force, took a knee and watched on as the referee counted him out. Hearn told Boxing Social that ‘quitting’ shouldn’t be used against fighters.
“The word ‘quitting’ means that you no longer want to go on. You choose another option. I don’t think that – as a non-fighter – you can ever criticise what these guys go through in the ring.
But, if you wanna be real, quitting in that situation is never something that should be used against you. I would’ve done the same thing. You would’ve done the same thing. 99% of people would’ve done the same thing.”
The promoter also referenced the reports following the bout that Garcia entered the ring injured. Regardless, he believes the now 23-1 fighter didn’t want to continue.
“He’s got a damaged rib, I’m sure he’s winded, but when you look in the referee’s eyes and watch him count to ten in front of you, and get up at ten and walk to your corner, you have to try and get up… Unless you don’t want to.”
Hearn mentioned Garcia’s own body shot stoppage against Luke Campbell back in 2021, pointing out that his charge physically couldn’t stand after taking the blow.
That was his final argument to say that Garcia did indeed quit.
“When you talk about ‘you can’t get up’, let’s talk about body shots like that. We can talk about Ryan Garcia’s body shot on Luke Campbell. Folded him in half. He wasn’t on a knee [watching the count], he was rolling around on the floor basically couldn’t breathe.”
You see on that dialogue, he had a damaged rib and he didn’t wanna carry on – no problem with that. But when fighters go ‘that’s out of order saying he quit, you don’t know shit about boxing.’ He did. But he’s not wrong to. It’s just a debate. He did the sensible thing, but he still quit.”
In the aftermath, Garcia has split with his trainer, Joe Goossen, and floated a move up to the 140lb ranks. He’s resumed light training.