Lightweight Ryan “Kingry” Garcia (19-0, 16 KOs) returns Friday night on Valentine’s Day against Francisco
“I’m not expecting a quick knockout in this fight but it can happen,” Garcia told Fightnews.com®. “2020 is the year to show everyone that I’ve got the skills and talent to take on bigger challenges. My legacy is what I’m looking forward to now. Let’s get the big names now!”
In the co-feature that same night former world champion Jorge Linares (46-5, 28 KO’s) will take on the always tough Carlos Morales (19-4-4, 8 KO’s).
“I’m really excited to be fighting here at the Honda Center. I know Carlos comes ready and prepared like he always does. I’m ready for this fight,” Linares told us.
If both Garcia and Linares come out victorious the two will likely square off in their next fight.
“I can’t look ahead to the Linares fight. It’s disrespectful to Fonseca because if I look ahead, I might have a bad performance,” Garcia explained.
Linares said, “Friday night he has a tough opponent in front of him. I hope it goes well. If there’s a potential showdown, why not? The main thing is that everything goes well for both of us Friday night. What’s important that we both come out with a victory. He has his opponent and I have mine. Saturday we will know what the status is.”
Serving as sparring partners a few years ago both, recount their experience in the ring with each other.
Garcia said, “It was good sparring. I learned a lot from him and who knows we could meet each other down the line.”
Linares commented, “We had the chance to spar together it was interesting. I told him he had talent and I wished him the best. If we get to fight, it will be different than a sparring session. Boxing is a full circle. Some of your young sparring partners can turn out to be your future opponent.”
Garcia is coming off a quick first round knockout over Romero Duno last November on the Canelo Kovalev co-feature. Following his spectacular knockout, Garcia went on to say at the post fight press conference that he wanted to fight Jorge Linares sometime next year.
“I knew I could beat him. I knew he couldn’t hit me. I hit him and it felt good. I landed good shots but nothing like before. I hit him and turned off the light switch,” Garcia on his last knockout win.
Now the 21-year-old will look to start the year with a win over Fonseca as a showdown with Jorge Linares is on the horizon. Nothing is guaranteed, Fonseca has been in with Gervonta Davis and Tevin Farmer as this fight for Garcia can serve either as a measuring stick to see where he stands or Fonseca could play spoiler.
“I saw his record and he doesn’t have a knockout against a fighter with a winning record. His record is all over the place, I was like this is why Gervonta and Tevin fought him. I get it. That record can’t fool me. I watched the tapes. His power isn’t there to keep me off. I’ll be the aggressor this fight,” Garcia said about his opponent Fonseca.
Linares must get by the always determined Carlos Morales, who gave Ryan Garcia a tough ten rounds back in 2018. Since his fight of the year candidate loss to Vasyl Lomachenko, Linares bounced back with a third round knockout over Abner Cotto. But in his next fight Linares was surprisingly stopped in the first round by Pablo Cesar Cano. The former world champion is coming off a unanimous decision over Al Toyogon.
“I still have a lot left in the tank,” Linares said.
No date has been set yet since both still have to come out victorious Friday night. However, it was confirmed to me that Golden Boy Promotions has Staples Center reserved for July as we will likely get a summer showdown between Garcia and Linares. Stay tuned.
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I believe we are witnessing the end of Jorge Linares boxing career, and Oscar wants a piece of it to add a prestige name to Garcia’s record with out a big risk. Not bad from the business standpoint, but to have Garcia under a real test before let him enter the lion’s den, he must face an opponent that still having more in the tank, less beaten. I know there are couple fighters that will be avoided by Oscar, lke Luke Campbell and Emmanuel Tagoe, just to mention two of them, but Zaur Abdullaev or Rances Barthelemy could be a good choice IMO.
I agree with you on saying Linares is on the down slope of his boxing career. I have always admired the gritty, aggressive, and determined style of fighting Linares brings to the table. Yes, he’s been beat and dethroned. However, Linares has never been a quitter and gives an honest effort in displaying his arsenal of skills.
Linares heart is not the issue, is his body. Chin and skin have been a problem for him since his early days, but now that is clearly accentuated to the breaking point that soon he gets a solid punch, or he bleeds or he goes down.
This fight is on Boxnation in the Uk followed by saturdays Plant vs Feigenbutz.
Two names he needs to beat in order to be the best: Lomachenko and Lopez.
Whetto-I think you’re trying to spoil him with those easy conditions
I think Morales is going to offset those plans
Linares has been looking old in his past few fights and has been a lot more sluggish telegraphing his punches. If you look at Linare’s 5 losses, they’ve all been by stoppage and he’s been receiving way too many blows to the head. It be an easy fight for Kingry in my opinion. But the fight the fans really wanna see would be against Tank of course.
Regardless of Linares being aged up a bit (only 34) the dude is a warrior with great heart and awesome skill. Whats the difference between him and a Pacquio or Hopkins? The name? I get it, he lost to Cano and Loma in a short period of time. Guys its Loma..one of the best fighters out there..Doesnt mean hes finished. So many fans are quick to write someone off. Linares is n will be an awesome test for Garcia. Truth be told, i think he can/may actually beat Garcia if garcia doesnt prepare properly.
I like the plan they have laid out for Garcia. He’s a good looking prospect, but he’s also still just a baby. Assuming both he and Linares handle business, then I think it’s a perfect step up fight. Linares might be down, but I still wouldn’t consider him just a gatekeeper.
I know it’s in vogue to hate Oscar, but if you have a problem with the proposed path for Garcia this year, then I think you’re just hating to hate. If anything, then it might be a little too ambitious. However, if we get past this loss is devastating attitude, then we might be seeing the development of a great young champion.
God, I love watching Linares box, such a wonderful skill from a true sweet scientist.