Canelo and ‘KingRy’ — Master and Pupil — Enter Danger Zone in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS- Master and pupil enter the arena of fate when Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Ryan “KingRy” Garcia both engage in the prize ring on the same night.

Alvarez (52-1-2, 35 KOs) tempts danger with a jump up to the light heavyweights and challenges WBO titlist Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev, while Garcia (18-0, 15 KOs) risks his spotless record against Romero Duno (21-1, 16 KOs) both at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Canelo the master and Garcia the pupil together will tempt fate and DAZN will stream the fight card.

“I’ve learned a lot from Eddy Reynoso,” said Garcia, 21, when asked about working under the team that guided Alvarez from the beginning. “Whenever I have a question Canelo helps me out.”

For most of Garcia’s life he had been trained by his father and uncle with great success. Soon it became apparent that the professional level offered different styles that posed problems for the lean speedy fighter from Victorville, Calif. He needed to adapt and finding the proper trainer led the Garcias to Eddy and Jose Reynoso. It’s been a seemingly perfect fit.

The change in Garcia’s style mostly has been focused on the defensive portion. In the past, especially against Carlos Morales and Jayson Velez, it was discovered that the tall thin prizefighter with the lightning hands could be entangled inside. He was forced to resort to amateur tendencies of holding. In those two fights it resulted in excessive holding.

In stepped the Reynosos and Alvarez and their formula for preventing entanglements has seemingly worked as evident against Braulio Rodriguez and Jose Lopez. Now Garcia faces Duno who rarely holds and always punches.

“I have a lot of respect for Romero Duno,” said Garcia at the Thursday press conference at the David Copperfield Theater in the MGM. “He is a humble person.”

Duno was signed by Golden Boy after wrecking the career of another undefeated fighter, Christian Gonzalez,  almost three years ago at Belasco Theater. The Filipino slugger’s only loss took place in 2016 when he lost in Russia by decision. Otherwise nobody has been able to withstand his blows.

“Romero Duno is a knockout puncher, he is looking to knock me out,” says Garcia who has never been defeated as a professional. “I didn’t take an old veteran, I took a young hungry fighter.”

Duno emphasized his gratitude for being allowed to fight Garcia and also warned that others from his country are equally good.

“Not only Manny Pacquiao can do history in boxing,” said Duno, 24. “In the Philippines a lot of Filipinos can do that too.”

Garcia and Duno enter a fight that looks 50/50 on paper. Much like the main event that pits Alvarez moving up to light heavyweight to challenge the kingpin Kovalev.

Alvarez’s advice to Garcia?

“Always be humble,” said Alvarez.

Good advice.

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