Avila Perspective, Chap. 114: Electrifying Ryan Garcia Opens Up 2021

Southern California’s Ryan “Kingry” Garcia will face England’s Luke Campbell on Saturday January 2, 2021. DAZN will stream the battle for the interim WBC lightweight title at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, Calif.

Another one of those useless titles but it’s really all about the fight.

Garcia (20-0, 17 KOs) was supposed to meet Campbell (20-3, 16 KOs) in early December, but the British fighter contracted the coronavirus and was forced to quarantine. This new date allows enough time for the fight to be re-scheduled.

“My mindset going into this fight hasn’t changed, and my training hasn’t stopped,” said Ryan Garcia. “I’m excited we have a new date and can finally bring this to the fans. I’m here, and I’m ready to ring in the new year with a victory…let’s go.”

Campbell expects to be ready.

“New date, new year, same result,” said Luke Campbell. “I’m fully back in training and have never felt better. What a way to start 2021 this is going to be with a clinical Luke Campbell win.”

It’s rare for a non-world title fight to grab main event status on a major boxing card, but Garcia (pictured on the right with his famous stablemate) is not the usual contender. Though undefeated, it’s really the manner of his victories that have electrified fans. In his last three fights, none of his opponents survived longer than six minutes. Francisco Fonseca was electrocuted with a left hook at 1:20 of the first round the last time Garcia walked into a prize ring.

British fans expect Campbell to prove Garcia is pure hype and a product of social media mania and a large female fan base. They cite Campbell’s experience against world champions like Vasyl Lomachenko and Jorge Linares that ended in decision losses. Also, that Campbell has never been stopped.

So far, Garcia has never been floored as a professional and shown extraordinary speed. It’s not a push-over fight but a strategically important step for the Southern Californian’s future as a major force in boxing and a crossover star who can attract non-boxing fans.

We have seen this before several decades ago.

“What better way to start this new chapter than with boxing’s newest crossover star? Despite being just 22 years old, Ryan Garcia has already built a huge fan base, and once he gets past Luke Campbell, the sky is the limit,” said Oscar De La Hoya who knows a thing or two about crossover appeal.

De La Hoya also happens to be Garcia’s promoter.

Now if Oscar can hang onto Garcia’s contract, we might see a revisit to a golden era like we saw when De La Hoya sold out boxing cards from Los Angeles to New York. And of course, Las Vegas.

One day after the new year begins, Garcia could be the vanguard of a new boxing era.

We shall see.

New Boxing Networks

No matter how many times prizefighting gets kicked and stomped on from detractors and haters, the sport always seems to rise up again.

Two boxing cards competed on a Thursday night with NBC Sports Network showcasing Ring City USA at the Wild Card Gym parking lot in Hollywood, and another show in Mexico City streamed on UFC Fight Pass.

Boxing continues to attract media outlets.

American fighters were sent to Sonora, Mexico on Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions to battle Mexican fighters. On the same night, Mexican fighters were sent to Hollywood, California USA to battle American fighters.

Both competed against each other.

Ring City USA has no particular promoter tie and already has dates set up for December and beyond.

“We’re willing to work with all promoters and we are not promoters,” said Evan Rutkowski on a DAZN boxing talk show. “We’re not taking options on any of these fighters.”

UFC Fight Pass has a deal with Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions, but rumors are spreading that the streaming network plans to expand its boxing platform on a large scale.

One of its promoters is said to be Salita Promotions and if that is true, then it could be a major coup led by top female fighter Claressa Shields.

At the moment, it is merely a rumor.

Spence and Garcia

All systems are go for the welterweight showdown between IBF and WBC welterweight titlist Errol Spence Jr. and former champion Danny “Swift” Garcia on December 5 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. It will be shown on FOX pay-per-view.

Questions remain about the health of Spence after a horrific car crash that saw his car topple end over end a year ago. Does the Texas southpaw still possess the reflexes and grit that propelled him to victory over Shawn Porter, Mikey Garcia and Kell Brook?

Garcia has only two losses and both were firefights with no clear winner.

This is an important measuring stick for both Spence and Garcia.

Canelo

With the departure of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez from Golden Boy Promotions it does not seem to constitute a complete amputation. DAZN will continue to stream the redheaded Mexican’s fights.

Alvarez will be fighting Callum Smith on Saturday Dec. 19, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. A limited number of fans will be allowed to witness the fight that will be co-promoted by Matchroom Boxing and Canelo Promotions. DAZN will stream.

“I am thrilled to be back at the Alamodome and very thankful to be fighting in front of my fans on December 19,” said Canelo. “I have great memories of my previous bouts in Texas, and I expect this to be a special fight to close out the year.”

Callum Smith is a younger brother of Liam Smith one of Canelo’s earlier knockout victims. He also has a seven-inch height advantage and equal reach advantage. Canelo, tiny by comparison, has a towering assignment to complete.

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