By Kenneth Friedman: Ryan Garcia (20-0, 17 KOs) needs a high caliber step-up opponent when boxing resumes and his promoters at Golden Boy will need to choose wisely.
Ryan’s trainer Eddy Reynoso wants him to take his time before he challenges for a world title. Eddy isn’t saying whether he’s seen vulnerabilities during Ryan’s sparring or if he’s just concerned about him being put in against someone he’s not ready for at this early stage in his career.
Ryan is winning too easily
Although Ryan has been crushing the opposition that his management has been matching him against, he’s not getting tested. For Ryan to get value from the learning fights he’s being given, Golden Boy will need to begin moving him up against better opponents.
It appears that Ryan’s promoters at Golden Boy backed him off from quality after he struggled against Carlos Morales in winning a controversial 10 round decision. Since that fight, Ryan has had four consecutive soft opponents, and he’s looked spectacular. However, the problems that Morales exposed in Ryan’s game are likely still present. Ryan’s flaws have been masked due to the mediocre opposition that Golden Boy has been feeding him.
More than anything, the 21-year-old Garcia needs to be in with opposition with experience and enough talent to prepare him to fight for a world. Before the pandemic hit, Golden Boy president Eric Gomez had talked of wanting to match Ryan against former three-division world champion Jorge Linares (47-5, 29 KOs).
The 34-year-old Linares is still expected to be the first person Garcia fights after boxing is given an all-clear to resume this year or in 2021. Linares is a good option because if Ryan struggles to beat him
Worthwhile opponents for Ryan’s next fight:
- Yvan Mendy
- Richard Commey
- Robert Easter, Jr.
- Felix Verdejo
- Jhonny Gonzalez
- Tevin Farmer
- Yves Ulysse Jr.
Different options for Ryan Garcia
“Ryan Garcia is interested in a big lightweight showdown, but his trainer Eddie Reynoso seems to prefer a more deliberate approach,” said Chris Mannix to DAZN. “Reynoso told ESPN Deportes that he would like to see Garcia get a couple of more fights before challenging the top fighters. So who do you want to see Ryan Garcia fight next?”
“I think they’re moving Ryan Garcia perfectly. They’re stepping him up the way they should be,” said Serio Mora. “He only has 20 fights, and he’s been maturing the right way. He’s been getting back to back knockouts in his toughest fights.
“That’s not his fault, but he’s not going to continue to do that when he steps up against former champions. I think that’s what’s next for Ryan Garcia. Test the waters against someone that’s already been the mountain top.
“Someone like [Alberto] Machado, and someone like Richard Commey, who just lost his title to Teofimo Lopez. Or even someone like Juan Carlos Burgos, who has been in there with Mikey Garcia, Devin Haney, and many others, and has never been stopped. So someone like that, a former champion, that’s who I think Ryan needs on his resume.”
Machado and Commey would risky fights for Ryan, as they’re both big hitters, and they have a lot of experience. The way that the 5’10” Ryan Garcia stands straight up when fighting, a puncher like Machado or Commey could do damage to him.
Machado is a monstrous puncher, who would have a shot at knocking Ryan out if he could get passed his left hook. It’s highly doubtful that Golden Boy would be willing to match Ryan against either of those fighters.
Ryan Garcia needs a stepping stone
“Well, yeah, I think Jorge Linares is that guy in his next fight, and that makes a lot of sense,” said Mannix. “Linares isn’t exactly in his prime. He’s lost five times, all by knockouts, and is coming off of a significant win on the undercard of Ryan Garcia. That’s a fight that obviously should be a stepping stone type of fights.
“And from there, I’d like to see how Garcia comes off of that type of fight. I’m not expecting him to knock Linares out in the first round like he did with Rumero Duno and Francisco Fonseca. But if he can stop Linares in the middle rounds, that’ll be proof enough that Ryan is ready for Gervonta Davis, Devin Haney, or someone along those lines.
“If he struggles with Linares and barely gets by him, that might prove Eddy Reynoso’s point. That Ryan Garcia isn’t ready for the top competition and needs one or two more fights. The upside is Garcia is really young, and taking those fights isn’t going to set him back,” said Mannix.
The fact that Ryan is trying to break the leash to get at lightweight champions Gervonta Davis and Devin Haney, it’s vitally essential that Golden Boy put him in against someone that can approximate the talent in those two fighters.
It’s not going to do Ryan any good if Golden Boy finds another Rumero Duno or Francisco Fonseca type of opponent for him to look great in a showcase fight. Ryan has already had 20 showcase fights. Now it’s time for Golden Boy to put Ryan in with serious opposition.
Linares a good option for Ryan Garcia
“No, I think Eddie Reynoso is right on point,” said Mora. “When it comes to a young champion, undefeated 20-0, knocking out everyone with 17 knockouts, already packing arena with 10,000 people. You need to calm that horse down, and you need a good trainer to do that, a good manager and a good promotional team.
“It’s not up to the fighter to say who he’s going to fight. He’ll fight anybody. He’ll fight King Kong. It’s up to his management, the people that care for him and care for his career to hold him back. ‘Not yet, Tiger. I know you want to fight all these guys, but now you’ve got to fight so and so.’
“The reason I didn’t say Jorge Linares is because I figure that fight is already set. So if that fight isn’t set, that’s the best fight for him. He’s a former world champion, and he’s just as good looking as Ryan Garcia, and he’s just as popular.
“I just think both of these guys mix up well, especially in LA at the Staples Center. And I just gave you three former world champions that would be great on Garcia’s resume.”
“I think there’s a middle ground from what Ryan Garcia wants, and Reynoso wants,” said Mannix. If Garcia can get through that Linares fight spectacularly, then bring on Gervonta Davis. If he struggles, then maybe another mid-level stepping stone type of guy might be good for his development.”
Linares is someone that is bordering on being a little too big of a step up from the guys that Golden Boy has been matching against Ryan. But they have to put him in with Linares because he feels he’s ready to face Gervonta and Haney next.
