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Ryan Garcia Knocks Out Javier Fortuna In Six: Result, Report And Video Highlights

Written by Shaun Brown on 17th July 2022.

Ryan Garcia

Ryan Garcia reminded everyone why he is a boxing superstar with an emphatic win over Javier Fortuna.

The fans and the famous were out in force at the Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles to see ‘KingRy’ who had a statement to make in what was his unofficial debut at Super Lightweight.

Wearing a white Dior robe and with a King Ryan silver chain draped around his neck Garcia looked like Hollywood with boxing gloves. Musical fanfare and screaming girls bellowed in his ears before the pyrotechnics signalled the start of his ring walk. This was boxing in the mainstream for a man who has nearly nine million Instagram followers.

Fortuna, a former WBA Super Featherweight champion, wasn’t overawed by the sights and the sounds. The 33-year-old Dominican wanted to crash a party, but Garcia’s performance proved there are levels in this sport.

Garcia’s trusty left hand got a warm-up in the opening round with a right hand down the middle serving as a reminder to Fortuna of the task in front of him.

The underdog was far more positive in the second as he looked for a winging right and then put the jab to work. A three-punch left-right-left combination had Garcia back in control. Trainer Joe Goossen was pleased as his pupil returned to the stool.

“That’s two (rounds) in the piggy bank.”

If Garcia needed a confidence boost in front of thousands there to see only him, it came in the third as the 23-year-old’s hands began to flow putting Fortuna under pressure.

Knockdowns

The first of three knockdowns came in the fourth frame. Garcia’s punches were beginning to hit harder. The speed of hand quickened, the atmosphere grew. And as everything came together the boxing heartthrob stepped in with a left hook that bashed the body of Fortuna and dropped him.

Fortuna was smart enough to spit out his gumshield to give him extra time to recover. This prompted a stern warning from referee Jerry Canto for the frowned upon veteran’s trick.

Garcia was now cruising but was on the receiving of a right hook at the beginning of the fifth. A warning that complacency will get you quickly found out in boxing. An off target straight right was then followed by a lightning left hook that put Fortuna on the floor again. Garcia stalked forward, composed and refusing to rush in to please the masses.

It was now a case of when not if. A relaxed Garcia threw a classy straight one-two followed by a trademark left hook to end the fight with 27 seconds left in round six. The gumshield was out again but this time it was for good. Fortuna’s fourth career loss (37-4, 26 KOs) was in the books.

Watch the final moments below courtesy of DAZN:

Garcia Reaction – Wants ‘Tank’ Davis Next at 140

Garcia moves to 23 without defeat (23-0, 19 KOs) and spoke to DAZN’s Chris Mannix afterwards about the performance and who he wants next.

“I know I performed well for myself, and I know that I was crisp, I was sharp. I know how good of a fighter I am; I just need to put it all together and you seen that come together today.”

“I’m not going back down to 135(lbs) for nothing. But I will fight Tank [Davis] next. If Tank wants that at 140… Hey I’m gonna record all the negotiations so you guys don’t make no headlines that I’m ducking. If he wants it let’s get it.”

The Californian then referenced his 2021 break from the sport to deal with mental health issues and at the same time seemed to take a verbal shot at an unnamed individual.

“It felt like a statement to come back to the timeline I was at. You see what happens when people try to tell you what to do. They told me I was some guy that didn’t care about boxing and I’m some guy that makes up mental health. Mental health is a time to reflect on yourself and get better for the future. That’s not weakness, that’s strength, that’s courage. You seen today when I stepped in the ring I showed nothing but courage and skills.”

The winner was asked why a mega-fight against WBA ‘Regular’ Lightweight champion Gervonta Davis was so important to him.

“Because that’s going to give me the respect I deserve. I’m never afraid. I have a spirit of competition in me and you’re going to see that in me when I come out and fight Tank and whoop his ass.”

Main Image courtesy of Golden Boy Twitter