Ryan Garcia (22-0, 18 KOs) may have one eye on a fight against Gervonta Davis but first he will have to get past Javier Fortuna.
ESPN boxing writer Mike Coppinger reported the news earlier with the lightweight fight set to go ahead on July 16 at the Crypto.com Arena (formerly known as Staples Centre) in Los Angeles.
Garcia was ringside at the Barclays Centre on Saturday night to watch Gervonta Davis beat Rolando Romero. After losing a $20,000 bet on the fight to Errol Spence Jr ‘KingRy’ took to Twitter to call out Davis, “Let me handle business July 16th . I’m going to get Tank. He was screaming the whole fight. I’m next so let it be. December let’s get it.”
Let me handle business July 16th I’m going to get tank, he was screaming the whole fight I’m next so let it be.. December let’s get it #TankRolly
— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) May 29, 2022
The July 16 date had looked like featuring Garcia against Isaac Cruz in a WBC lightweight title final eliminator but the fight fell through. Javier Fortuna (37-3-1, 26 KOs) appears to have answered the call, and the governing body’s number nine contender will be tasked with derailing any of Garcia’s grand ‘Tank’ plans for later in the year.
In February the 33-year-old Dominican returned home knocking out Rafael Hernandez in the first round. Prior to that, 11 months ago, Fortuna lost out on his challenge for the vacant WBC 135lbs Interim strap against Joseph Diaz.
Ironically Garcia and Fortuna were meant to meet in April 2021, but the former withdrew citing mental health issues. Diaz stepped in for the rearranged date and won a hard-fought decision between the two former super featherweight world champions.
Garcia returned to the ring in April after 15 months out and eased to wide 12-round points decision against Emmanuel Tagoe.