Oscar De La Hoya says Ryan Garcia needs to be ‘smart and careful’ when ‘KingRy’ returns to the ring on April 9.
After nearly 15 months out of the ring the undefeated lightweight faces Emmanuel Tagoe at the Alamodome, San Antonio live on DAZN. And De La Hoya, who promotes Garcia, gave his thoughts on the bout at yesterday’s open workout in San Diego.
“He’s fighting a guy who has nothing to lose,” said the famed former multi-weight world champion.
“I think Ryan needs to come out and make a point but do it smart and careful.”
Garcia last fought against Britain’s Luke Campbell in January 2021. After being dropped for the first time in his career the 23-year-old rose got back up and with a vicious body-shot KO.
“I got knocked out for the first time in my life and I took it well. I reacted the way I imagined I would,” said Garcia.
Garcia v Tagoe has been set at a catchweight limit of 139lbs. Big plans are in the pipeline for the Californian should he come through next month’s fight and the heavy betting favourite commented on how he plans to beat the Ghanaian.
“Fighters always try to pressure me. We’ll see since I don’t know too much about this guy. I’ll just stay calm and surgically break him down or knock him out.”
Joe Goossen will be in Garcia’s corner for the first time since the fighter parted ways with Eddy Reynoso. The veteran trainer says he knew Garcia had something special.
“We got along and there was something about him that appealed to me personality wise and fighting wise. He’s really attacking this like he’s obsessed and possessed. I’m genuinely impressed.”