Avila Perspective, Chap. 233: The Rocket Rise of Ryan Garcia

Avila Perspective, Chap. 233: The Rocket Rise of Ryan Garcia

Waiting in the Tuesday sunshine, atop a lush green Beverly Hills cliff, reporters of all shapes and sizes trickled into the mansion to see the newest version of a prizefighter streaking toward super stardom or bust.

Ryan Garcia seemed destined for this route ever since childhood.

“It takes courage to go after something that nobody believed you could do. That’s why I’m standing here today. To make everybody realize that if you’re in there and chase your dream like you’ve never chased anything before, you’ll see something special happen,” said Garcia.

In less than two weeks, Garcia (23-0, 19 KOs) dives into a mega fight with Gervonta “Tank” Davis (28-0, 26 KOs) in a battle of undefeated power-hitting lightweights bursting with excellence. They will meet at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on April 22. Showtime pay-per-view and DAZN pay-per-view will show the championship fight.

Ever since Garcia was a child, he seemed to understand his place in the long history of prizefighting.

“When he was seven years old, he introduced himself to referee Tom Taylor,” said Henry Garcia, father of Ryan Garcia. “It’s like he knew.”

After countless amateur fights in small gyms in Southern California, or across the country in remote places, the Garcia family would pack up their bags and head east, south or north. It was apparent that even a young Ryan had assets like speed, power and height. But you never know which young star can handle the dedication and discipline.

Even as a 12-year-old Garcia encountered scrutiny and criticism from parents of other young boxers and a few amateur officials. The politics of boxing are not limited to the professional boxing world. Amateur boxing has its own brand of favoritism and blocking.

Snickers and comments circulated at small-time tournaments when junior high school student Garcia walked to the boxing ring. But once the action began, a sudden silence was noticeable as if the crowd expected something special to happen one way or the other.

Garcia handled the crowd reactions like a veteran.

Now 24, Ryan Garcia worked the media throng with precision and coolness that even his own promoter Oscar De La Hoya took years to develop. I remember well the “Golden Boy’s” obvious shyness around reporters and photographers in 1992 until the early 2000s.

Little by little De La Hoya, the winner of six weight division world titles, needed time to shed that shyness and feel comfortable about speaking to the press. It did not happen overnight.

“I’ve given little tips to Ryan here and there on how to deal with an event of this magnitude. Being involved in events like these inside the ring myself, I can share with Ryan what he’s going to feel come fight week. What he’s going to feel after he weighs in. What he’s going to feel as he’s walking down the tunnel into the ring. It’s no secret that I’ve been there. He’s always open to listening and taking the advice. It can only help,” said De La Hoya.

Is it fate?

There was Ryan Garcia strolling from media spot to media spot interviewing with the expertise and calmness befitting an experienced politician. Even the idea of staging a media day on a Beverly Hills hilltop mansion was his own.

“Can you believe 10 years ago to now,” said Lisa Garcia recalling his rocketing journey. “This was all his idea. He said he didn’t want a boring media day.”

It’s as if he were meant to be a mega fighter.

No two fighters are alike, not even brothers are alike. The road taken by Ryan Garcia was not the journey others have experienced. Yet, talent alone does not make a superstar.

“Ryan has always been focused,” said the father Henry Garcia. “Always.”

Joe Goossen, who has worked with countless world champions from the 1980s to the present, notices differences that are unique to Ryan Garcia.

“He’s got the speed, he’s got the power, he’s got the reach, he’s got the height. What a work ethic. He’s so self-driven and self-motivated. You wonder, ‘Could this really be true?’” said Goossen. “He looks like a star. He carries himself like a star. I just think Ryan is one of the top three of my all-time favorite fighters ever.”

That’s an incredible statement coming from Goossen who has been around hundreds of great fighters in his career.

People around the world are going to witness an event no other sport rivals. Two prizefighters with extraordinary athleticism, skill and fortitude will meet in a small area the size of a living room and dangerously exchange blows.

Anything can happen in a prize fight. Anything.

While looking around the Beverly Hills compound watching reporters absorb the sights and breathe in the crisp spring air, I wondered to myself if the winner will advance to be another superstar?

So many have come and gone.

“With a win, Ryan doesn’t become this generation’s Oscar De La Hoya. He becomes this generation’s Ryan Garcia. Even before he was a superstar, I’ve always said that Ryan Garcia can become even bigger than Canelo. Even bigger than Oscar De La Hoya. Bigger than whoever. Because we’re living in a time where media is everything,” said De La Hoya.

Meanwhile, Ryan Garcia casually talked with various reporters, stopping for an occasional photo and to go through the motions of a workout for the cameras.

“This is a huge fight for boxing. It can really change the trajectory of the sport and inspire young fighters to get it on right now,” Garcia said. “I have to show people that I’m destined for this.”

Photo credit: Al Applerose

More News and Notes

360 Promotions

360 Promotions moves its operations to Commerce Casino on Friday April 14, with Omar Trinidad (11-0-1) facing Adan Ochoa (12-2) in the main event. UFC Fight Pass will be streaming the card live at 8 p.m.

It’s a strong card that also features a female bout between Gloria Munguia and Nikkia Williams in a flyweight match.

The Commerce Casino is located 6131 Telegraph Road in Commerce, Calif.

Creator Clash 2

An army of social media influencers gather to exchange blows as Creator Clash 2 takes place on Saturday April 15, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. All proceeds go to charity.

Led by Alex Massabi and IDUBBZ in a super middleweight pro fight, a large card features both male and female creative artists with many putting on boxing gloves for the very first time.

Abelina Sabrina, JAELARAY, DAD and AB are many of the creators who began training since September for this event. They put in serious work and improvements in their boxing skills are not massive but visible.

Tickets are available and the event will be streamed on pay-per-view at https://www.moment.co/creatorclash/creatorclash-creator-clash2

Fights to Watch: Saturday, Joe Joyce (15-0) vs. Zhilei Zhang (24-1-1) and Mikaela Mayer (17-1) vs. Christina Linardatou (14-2), 12:00 p.m. PT ESPN+

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