As Ryan Garcia prepares for his return to the ring, he has once again made headlines after gunning for Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya and in particular, Bernard Hopkins.
The 25-year-old will attempt to bounce back from his first career defeat this weekend after losing out to Gervonta Davis back in April.
‘King Ry’ will faces Mexican power-puncher, Oscar Duarte, in Houston, Texas, and there are some who are backing the underdog to pull off the upset.
During the press conference ahead of the bout, Garcia made a beeline for Hopkins after taking offence at ‘B-Hop’s’ comments that suggested he should retire from the sport if he does not defeat Duarte, an opponent that Garcia believes his own promoters are rooting for.
In response, the 25-year-old superstar attempted to embarrass Hopkins, quoting a famous phrase from the former two-division champion who claimed ‘he would never lose to a white boy’, before being knocked out by Joe Smith Jr a few years later.
“There’s a couple things I want to touch [on.] One thing that’s been on my heart is the statement that Bernard made where he’ll decide if I’m gonna finish or if I’m gonna continue boxing after this fight.
He don’t decide that. My coach does, my team does, everybody that grinds with me day in, day out. Ultimately God decides, not him. Nobody was telling him when to stop boxing. He stop boxing at what 45? So kudos to him. But he don’t determine that.
Last time I checked he said he’d never lose to a white boy then Joe Smith Jr knocked him out of the ring. Last time I checked Joe Smith Jr is white. So they be lying.
The loss to Smith Jr proved to be Hopkins last outing, hanging up the gloves after his first stoppage defeat, and retiring with a record of 55-8-2 and a place in the Hall of Fame.
Hopkins was sensationally knocked through the ropes and onto the floor ringside by a flurry of hooks from Smith Jr, who retained the WBC light-heavyweight title that night in the eighth round.
‘The Executioner’ didn’t take kindly to the referee beginning his count, but accepted the defeat and retired in the ring.
