By Matt Lieberman: Ryan Garcia has set a big goal in 2021 in defeating Manny Pacquiao and then Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis to finish the year with a flourish. Garcia (21-0, 18 KOs) says this would be the perfect year for him in beating both of these two stars.
The Golden Boy Promoted King Ryan is taking the fastest possible route to become a superstar by the end of 2021. He still doesn’t have the fight with the former eight-division world champion Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs).
They still need someone to finance the fight, which could be more than a little risky given that Ryan isn’t a household name.
Is Pacquiao vs. Ryan Garcia a PPV worthy fight?
The Golden Boy promoted ‘Kingry’ Ryan isn’t a world champion, and Pacquiao is an older fighter that hasn’t fought in two years.
In looking at the Pacquiao – Ryan match in a logical way, the pay-per-view numbers could prove to be underwhelming because the fight is perceived as a mismatch and a way for the two to make money.
It’s not really a sporting fight. Ryan competes in the 135-pound division, and he’ll be going up two weight classes to take on Pacquiao, who was stripped of his WBA welterweight title last week due to inactivity.
“[My goal] is to beat Gervonta Davis and [Manny] Pacquiao in the same year,” said Ryan Garcia to ESPN Deportes. “That would be my perfect 2021.”
Beating those two would be a major shock to the fans, who see Ryan as not have any possibility of winning those fights.
Ryan didn’t look like a fighter capable of beating Pacquiao or Tank Davis in his last performance against Luke Campbell last month.
Fans think Ryan lucked out in beating Campbell because he was there to be knocked out in the second round after the British fighter dropped him. Campbell lost his nerve after knocked Ryan down, and he let him survive.
Initially, Pacquiao vs. Garcia was going to be a 10-round exhibition match in April or May at a catchweight in the low 140s.
The idea of the fight being an exhibition was intensely unpopular with boxing fans. Despite Ryan having told fans repeatedly in the last few days the match against Pacquiao is a “real fight,” the reaction has been largely distrustful and negative.
“This is the first fight that is going to put me up there to where I’ll have a chance to really spread a good message,” said Ryan Garcia on social media on his fight with Pacquiao.
“Forget the money, forget everything else. You can’t pay me to control me. It’s the chance to have the voice I always wanted. Now I’m going to fight Manny Pacquiao.
“It’s a great moment, but I also know a lot more work has to be done. I said I know it’s farfetched but I will be Manny Pacquiao’s last fight at 140,” said Ryan in remembering something he had predicted earlier.
“And I don’t know if it’s going to be at 140, but I did say it two years ago. I told everybody, ‘Don’t say I didn’t say it. Don’t say I didn’t claim it before it happened.’ I try to keep that conversation short,” said Garcia.
Getting Pacquiao down to 135 or 140 gives Ryan his best chance of winning this fight because he’s likely to be weakened a little.
I don’t want to leak anything,” said Ryan about Pacquiao. “Even now, I’m trying to position it. I will say to the people that are mad about it, to the people that have something negative to say about it.”
Fans aren’t angry about Ryan possibly fighting Pacquiao. The fans are skeptical about the fight taking place because Ryan talked up a fight with Gervonta Davis recently, and then didn’t follow through.
“Think about this. The reason you might not like this is because you have not seen it before. If it was something that happened often, you would not doubt it. just don’t worry.
“This is a fight that is on a rare occasion. That’s why it’s so interesting. That’s why it’s a fight to make. You can’t explain it.
“All you can do is hate on it. Some people choose to hate on it, and some choose to embrace it. Whatever side you’re on, I promise you, you’re going to want to watch it because this fight has everything,” said Ryan.
It would be good if Ryan tried to see things through the eyes of the fans. If he could do that, he’d understand that the fans aren’t “mad.” They’re disappointed that Pacquiao isn’t fighting more well-established fighters like Terence Crawford and Errol Spence.
“I’m a fighter of this generation. He’s a fighter of the last generation. We’re both colliding,” said Ryan Garcia.