By Adam Baskin: Ryan Garcia has parted ways with trainer Joe Goossen after his loss to Gervonta Davis on April 22nd. The previously unbeaten 24-year-old Kingry Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs) hasn’t made a public comment about the split, but it could be that he was displeased with his instructions during the fight with Tank.
Mike Coppinger of ESPN reports the news of Ryan parting ways with the famed coach Goossen, who was only with the Golden Boy-promoted Southern California native for one fight, and had little time to make lasting improvements to his flawed fighting style.
Some boxing fans on social media note that Goossen wasn’t present, standing by Ryan Garcia’s side, during the post-fight press conference after his humiliating seventh-round knockout loss to Gervonta. Whether Goossen was there or not, out of sight of the cameras, is unclear.
Options for Ryan’s next coach:
- Derrick James
- Calvin Ford
- Eddy Reynoso
- Freddie Roach
- Floyd Mayweather Jr
- Teddy Atlas
Where Ryan will go now for his next coach is the important question. He could return to his former trainer Eddy Reynoso to try and pick up the pieces of their failed partnership. It’s believed that Ryan didn’t put in the work and, more importantly, failed to listen to what Reynoso told him to do to succeed with the coach, who trains superstar Canelo Alvarez.
Gervonta Davis’ trainer Calvin Ford has already offered to take over as Ryan Garcia’s new coach, saying, “I’d welcome him with open arms.” It could be a difficult transition for Ryan to work with Ford, as they come from different walks of life. Ford wouldn’t accept Ryan’s slacker attitude or his preening on Instagram.
He would want Kingry to work hard, and whether he has the dedication, discipline, or mental toughness to fit with a coach like Ford is questionable.
One sees that Ryan would likely quickly part ways with Ford in lightning fashion after one fight or perhaps walk out immediately after a few weeks of training. If Ford asks the Instagram star turned millionaire to work hard, it’s predictable that Ryan would fire him too.
“Star boxer Ryan Garcia and trainer Joe Goossen have parted ways after three fights, the last of which came vs. Gervonta Davis. The PPV event – Garcia’s first – was a massive commercial success. He’ll now campaign at 140 pounds, but no decision has been made on his next trainer,” said Mike Coppinger on Twitter.
The question is, did Goossen fail Ryan, or was it the other way around? Indeed, you can make a strong argument that with Ryan’s undisciplined approach to the fight with Gervonta, his loss was entirely his fault, not that of his grizzled coach Goossen.
With how Ryan chose to go right into the teeth of the more experienced Tank Davis’ offense, he was begging to be knocked out.
