By Kenneth Friedman: Ryan ‘Kingry’ Garcia (20-0, 17 KOs) will be stepping up to the big time in December to take a fight against Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis. Ryan’s dad, Henry Garcia, who also trains him, says that the Tank Davis fight will be happening. The fight is already being planed between them.
Ryan’s dad is purposely holding him back until the end of 2020 before matching him against the 25-year-old Tank Davis because he wants him to increase his “man-strength.’ Garcia is 21 now, and he’ll be 22 by the time December rolls around. Henry Garcia believes that Ryan’s strength will have increased by the end of the year.
Henry says the 5’10’ Ryan Garcia will use his height, reach and boxing skills to beat Tank Davis. He says that boxers beat sluggers ALWAYS. We’ll see if Henry’s right about his theory.
Obviously, history has shown us that boxers don’t always beat punchers. Gervonta, with the type of power that he possesses, he can KO a fighter like Ryan from just a single shot.
Ryan Garcia vs. Gervonta Davis will happen in December
“I think the fight between Ryan and Tank is going to happen in December. Yeah, it’s going to happen this year,” said Ryan’s dad Henry Garcia to AB Boxing News. “We’re already planning and everybody has agreed to it.”
“So he’s going to do that first, and we’re going to go after either [Jorge] Linares or Luke Campbell. We’re going to go through the other boxers, and then we’re going to meet at the end of the year,” said Ryan Garcia’s dad.
In the meantime, Garcia will possibly be facing Jorge Linares (47-5, 29 KOs) in July if they get the fight negotiated. Ryan’s dad doesn’t seem too motivated at getting the fight made with the 34-year-old Linares.
Ryan’s dad worried he won’t receive credit for beating Linares
He thinks that Ryan won’t receive the credit from the boxing world for beating Linares, and he prefers that he face Luke Campbell or Lee Selby, who he thinks is in the zenith of their careers. In reality, Campbell and Selby are both close to the same age as Linares. Selby is definitely past it, whereas Campbell has already been beaten by Linares.
It’s possible that Ryan’s dad is worried him losing to Linares, and then having his career stunted right away. By taking an arguably lesser threat than Linares like Selby or Campbell, Ryan would avoid losing before he faces Tank Davis.
Tank Davis and Leo Santa Cruz could be fighting next. That’s a match that’s being talked about for pay-per-view in the summer, and it’ll be an interesting fight. If Tank destroys Santa Cruz by a quick knockout, it’s going to put Ryan Garcia in a tough position to try and negotiate the fight.
He’ll have to accept being the B-side unless he picks up a big win of his own before the negotiations start with Tank Davis’ promoters at Mayweather Promotions. Ryan’s dad shouldn’t go the easier route by matching him against Selby or Campbell. Beating Linares would be a more impressive achievement than defeating Selby or Campbell.
Tank Davis fight being delayed
“Right now, he’s 21. That’s why we’re holding back until the end of the year,” said Henry Garcia in talking about wanting to hold Ryan back until he’s a little older before matching him against Gervonta. “I want him to fight Tank when he’s 22-years-old. Ryan turns 22 in August. So we’re good. We’re in no rush here.”
What’s more important than Ryan’s age is having him fight good opposition. He hasn’t been doing that lately, and his father is making a big deal about his instead. In Ryan’s last two fights, he’s been matched fringe level fighters in Francisco Fonseca and Romero Duno.
He stopped both of them, but neither of them are great talents. Henry says that they were both in the prime of their careers, which may be true, but they’re not great fighters nonetheless. Being in the prime is fine, but if you lack ability, it doesn’t matter.