New audio seems to reveal that Ryan Garcia entered the ring against Gervonta Davis recovering from a rib injury.
The pair put their undefeated records on the line in Las Vegas to crown American boxing’s biggest superstar. ‘Tank’ Davis did what he was known for – bided his time and unleashed devastating power.
In the second, after he had been swarmed by an eager Garcia, he timed a short left hook to drop the 24-year-old. The fight would continue until the seventh, when a similar flurry from Garcia was ended by a Davis body shot.
Garcia took a knee and watched the referee count him out, accepting the loss. Much has been made about his ability or lack thereof to get up, with many analysts believing he ‘quit.’
Showtime’s All Access documentary has now showed the moment in increased detail, complete with important reactions from those closest to the fighters.
Microphones picked up trainer, Joe Goossen, asking his fighter if the final bow hit ‘that part’ of his rib – assumed by viewers to be an area that was injured during camp. Garcia responded affirmatively.
“I didn’t want to continue because of my rib.”
Goossen then says Garcia would’ve rather got hit on the chin, to which his fighter agrees.
This new footage comes after one of Garcia’s sparring partners, Mongolia’s Tsendbaatar Erdenebat, has claimed to have injured him in the lead-up.
Erdenebat said on social media that he threw a body shot that ultimately landed Garcia in hospital, and him fired with half his promised pay. He has been accused of being a ‘mole’ in the camp, feeding information to ‘Tank’s side. He denies this.
Garcia has been humble in defeat and avoided excuses to justify the loss. He was doing this solo, with Goossen and promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, skipping out on the press conference.