Unfinished Business for Ryan Garcia and Javier Fortuna in L.A.

LOS ANGELES-Standing in the middle of a firestorm seemed to suit Ryan Garcia as he battled a nearby international summit for attention and to validate his upcoming lightweight challenge from Javier Fortuna.

Garcia always seems to be the eye of the storm.

On Tuesday, near the statues of sports greats like Kobe Bryant, the 23-year-old Garcia (22-0, 18 KOs) officially announced that his fight versus Fortuna (37-3-1, 26 KOs) will take place at the Crypto.com Arena on Saturday, July 16, on the Golden Boy Promotions card. DAZN will stream live.

Formerly known as Staples Center, the newly re-named arena recently housed a world title clash between Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Isaac Cruz last December. A little more than a week ago the same Tank Davis delivered a sizzling knockout win in Brooklyn. Garcia was a witness to the victory.

Always, he’s in the middle of the storm.

“I want Tank Davis next,” said Garcia. “But first I have to beat Fortuna.”

Fortuna, a former super featherweight world champion, was scheduled to fight Garcia a year ago but the California fighter was forced to cancel for personal reasons. Instead, another local fighter Jojo Diaz stepped in and handed Fortuna a defeat. It was only his third defeat.

Undeterred, Fortuna returned to the prize ring four months ago in his native Dominican Republic and knocked out Rafael Hernandez in one round. He still wanted a crack at Garcia who he calls a duck.

“Ryan’s speed doesn’t faze me. I know how to take that away from him. I have the experience to do it. You’ll see during fight night. You’ll see my power. I am looking forward to beating him at his house,” said Fortuna via Zoom.

Outside of the Crypto.com Arena where some of the largest sporting events have taken place including numerous L.A. Laker championships and the first prize fight ever held in that arena between Oscar De La Hoya and Shane Mosley 22 years ago, it was electric.

Garcia harbors that same kind electricity with him whenever he enters the prize ring and also brings more than 9 million social media followers. Few other prizefighters understand the digital landscape like the lightweight titlist from Victorville, Calif.

But it’s what he does inside the ropes during a fight that really explains Garcia’s ability to attract fans. With lightning fists and mind-numbing power, the boxing public constantly debate his place among the talented lightweight division. It’s perhaps the best division in boxing today and Garcia realizes two more wins could lead to possible sports immortality.

A win over Fortuna followed by a clash with Tank Davis could be a clash of titans the boxing world provides every so often.

“I want Tank Davis next, that is what I have said. I know that Tank is a big fighter and so am I. Whoever wins that fight is the next face of boxing,” Garcia said.

First, the big hurdle of Fortuna stands in the way and he desires respect.

“I don’t want to say it, I want to do it,” said Fortuna about defeating Garcia next month. “I’m going to knock him out.”

Garcia smiles when told of Fortuna’s statements.

“Fortuna is making it seem like I ducked him,” Garcia says with a smile. “When I connect, we’ll see who looks scared.”

The storm is brewing.

Tickets went on sale beginning on Tuesday. Go to www.AXS.com. to purchase tickets to the Garcia vs Fortuna fight.

Photo credit: Al Applerose

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