By Barry Holbrook: In a thrilling fight this Friday, unbeaten Ryan Garcia (19-0, 16 KOs) will be taking on two-time world title challenger Francisco Fonseca (25-2-2, 19 KOs) for the WBC Silver lightweight title in the headliner on DAZN on February 14 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Garcia, 21, is taking a step up in competition in facing the experienced Fonseca in a fight that will help push him up the rankings. Ryan is already highly ranked at #2 WBA, #4 WBC & #6 WBO. At this point, Ryan feels he can beat any of the current world champions at 135, and he’s counting on being able to get a title shot.
Garcia doesn’t view WBA champ Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and WBC belt holder Devin Haney as real champions. Ryan points out that Tank Davis beat an old fighter in Yuriorkis Gamboa on December 28 to win his WBA ‘regular’ 135-lb title.
Gamboa is 38-years-old, and suffered a torn Achilles tendon in round 2 against Tank Davis during their fight in Atlanta. As for Haney, Garcia says he was given his WBC lightweight title by the World Boxing Council OUTSIDE of the ring. The WBC elevated the 21-year-old Haney (24-0, 15 KOs) on October 23 at the same time they gave Canelo Alvarez the WBC Franchise tag.
The Garcia-Fonseca undercard has several interesting fights:
- Jorge Linares vs. Carlos Morales
- Alexis Rocha vs. Brad Solomon
- Blair Cobbs vs. Samuel Kotey
Former three division world champion Linares could be next for Ryan. That’s the plan, as long as both guys win and look good in their respective fights this Friday.
Gervonta and Haney aren’t champions says Garcia
“I was supposed to fight Gamboa two years ago, which is why I say I should be the champion,” said Ryan Garcia to Fino Boxing in talking about Gervonta Davis. “If I don’t see you as a champion, then you’re not a champion. If he [Tank Davis] got a title fighting Yuriorkis Gamboa, who is 40-years-old, then why didn’t I get a title in knocking out Duno?
“It’s kind of a similar thing, but actually you’d go with a guy that’s in his prime more,” said Garcia. “Really, Devin Haney didn’t even fight anybody for his title. So it’s kind of like, I’m done with the title s—. They can call themselves champs all they want. To me, they’re NOT champs. Hell of a fighter, both of them [Haney and Gervonta].
“They’re great fighters, but champions? Nah,” said Ryan. “I just want to get the best performance myself,” said Ryan Garcia about his fight with Fonseca this Friday. “If I thought I fought great earlier.
“I know that Tevin [Farmer] didn’t knock him [Fonseca] out, but Gervonta kind of knocked him out. I don’t know what you can call that. As long as I perform great and feel good about my performance, then I’m all good,” said Garcia.
Fonseca gave Tevin Farmer and Tank Davis a good fight in losing to both guys. Gervonta stopped Fonseca in the 8th round in August 2017 in a competitive match. Tank looked tired in that fight from the pressure Fonseca was putting on him. Farmer beat Fonseca by a 12 round decision in 2018. In Fonseca’s last fight, he fought to a 12 round draw against Alex Dilmaghani last November in London, UK.
Garcia is coming off a 1st round knockout of contender Romero Duno on November 2 in Las Vegas.
Ryan Garcia wants Canelo to fight Jermall Charlo
“I’d kind of like to see him fight [Jermall] Charlo; someone on the other side of the street,” said Garcia when asked who he wants Canelo Alvarez to fight on May 2. “I want to see something else, something a little different. A different type of opponent, I want to see that.
“Hell, yeah, I think he knocks him out,” said Ryan on Canelo stopping Jermall. “Charlo is a great fighter though. You have to be careful, because Charlo is strong, hungry, and he’s a guy that wants to win. Canelo is going to have to bring it out of himself to knock him out, but I think he’s going to knock him out,” said Ryan on Canelo stopping Charlo when/if they ever fight.
Charlo (30-0, 22 KOs) isn’t in the running for Canelo’s next fight on May 2. Although a lot of boxing fans would love to see Canelo and Charlo fight now, it’s not happening next. Super middleweight champions Billy Joe Saunders and Callum Smith are the two options for Canelo’s next fight.
Jermall fights on Showtime, and is with Al Haymon. That could make it difficult for him and Canelo to ever fight unless Jermall’s popularity increases to the point where the demand is high from the boxing public in seeing those two fight. Right now, Charlo doesn’t have enough fan appeal to make a fight between him and Canelo viable.
Tickets for the Garcia vs. Fonseca card can be purchased at the ticketmaster.com and goldenboytickets.com.