Luke Campbell defeated Ryan Garcia in the second round but then caught a brutal body bullet in the seventh round; influence for US star Garcia justifies his status as one of the hottest buildings in American boxing
Last updated: 03/01/21 12:45 am
Ryan Garcia defeated Luke Campbell with a stop
Ryan Garcia escaped from an early knockout to stop Luke Campbell in the seventh round with a body shot.
Garcia found himself on the floor in the second round of his biggest test to date but fought back and made a stunning finish with a left hook to the liver that submerged Campbell to his knee, and he could not get up. .
Saturday’s win in Texas for the talented 22-year-old justifies Garcia’s status as one of the hottest buildings in U.S. boxing.
Lifting the WBC interim title will be a compelling opponent for American alliance Devin Haney (who holds the full title).
It’s in the thick of an interesting lightweight division that also includes Teofimo Lopez (IBF, WBA and WBO champion) and Gervonta Davis (who also has a draft of the WBA belt).
Campbell put Garcia ahead in the second round
Garcia ended the fight fiercely in the seventh
For British Olympic gold medalist Campbell, it is a great solution for him to seek a world title – at the age of 33, he was beaten twice in world title fights by Jorge Linares and Vasiliy Lomachenko.
‘King Ry’ was carried to the ring on a throne, similar to Tyson Fury in February last year before Deontay Wilder was overthrown, but Garcia was suddenly brought back to earth.
The famous American hit the deck for the first time in his 21-fght career in the second round when Campbell perfectly put a left-back to knock him down.
Garcia’s response to the first major upheaval he had ever seen inside the ring was positive. He walked back on the front leg and fired power strokes while Campbell was happy to spend his time.
In a blink at the end of the fifth, Garcia exploded with a left hook that made it clear to Campbell who went short towards the ropes until he was saved by the bell for the end of the turn.
It was clear Garcia’s power was bothering Campbell but the Brit also had times with slick anti-punches.
‘King Ry’ is a WBC interim lightweight champion
Saul identified ‘Canelo’ Alvarez with Garcia
But the show was closed in the seventh with Garcia’s brutal hook left to Campbell’s ribbon.
The Brit sank to one knee, bursting into pain, and unable to beat the referee’s account.
Garcia wildly celebrated expanding his record unnoticed with the supremo Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, whom he trains alongside, and who climbed into the ring to congratulate him.