Ryan Garcia

Early Life and Amateur Career

 

Ryan Garcia’s early life is deeply rooted in boxing, driven by family influence and an evident natural aptitude for the sport. Born on August 8, 1998, in Victorville, California, Ryan was practically raised in the gym, surrounded by boxing gear instead of traditional toys. His father, Henry Garcia, was not only passionate about boxing but also served as Ryan’s primary coach, while his uncle, Sergio Garcia, also contributed significantly to his training.

 

Ryan started boxing at just seven years old. The Garcia family garage served as his first training ground, where his potential quickly began to show. His early exposure to rigorous training and his inherent talent for the sport propelled him into the amateur boxing scene at a remarkably young age.

 

Throughout his amateur career, Ryan Garcia compiled an outstanding record of 215 wins and only 15 losses. His trophy case grew rapidly, filled with accolades that showcased his prowess. Among his most notable achievements, Ryan won 15 national gold medals and was a 15-time national amateur champion across various competitions. These include titles from prestigious tournaments such as the Silver Gloves, Junior Golden Gloves, and Junior Olympics.

 

Each match and tournament Ryan participated in was a steppingstone that helped him refine his skills, including his trademark lightning-fast speed and powerful punches. Some of his standout victories in the amateur ring helped set the stage for his professional career, demonstrating his ability to handle pressure and adapt to different fighting styles.

 

Ryan’s journey through the amateur ranks not only shaped him as a fighter but also prepared him for the professional stage, which he would step onto with confidence and a solid foundation of skill and discipline, all honed from an early age in Victorville under the guidance of his family and a close-knit community of supporters.

 

Professional Career

 

Ryan Garcia embarked on his professional boxing career at the tender age of 17, making his debut on June 9, 2016. His first opponent was Edgar Meza in Tijuana, whom he defeated via technical knockout. Garcia’s talent caught the attention of Golden Boy Promotions, leading to a signing in November 2016. He made his promotional debut on December 17, 2016, during the Smith-Hopkins light-heavyweight main event at The Forum, securing a second-round knockout victory.

 

By October 2018, Garcia began training under Eddy Reynoso, known for his work with prominent fighters like Canelo Álvarez and Óscar Valdez, at their gym in San Diego, California. A year later, in September 2019, Garcia solidified his future with Golden Boy Promotions by signing a new five-year contract, although the terms of the deal were not publicly disclosed.

 

Garcia’s ascent in the boxing ranks continued as he faced Romero Duno on November 2, 2019, as part of the co-main event for the Canelo Álvarez vs. Sergey Kovalev bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Garcia triumphed with a first-round knockout, capturing the WBC Silver lightweight title. His swift rise was further highlighted in his fight against Francisco Fonseca on February 14, 2020, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, where he secured another first-round knockout.

 

Garcia’s notable match came against Olympic gold medalist Luke Campbell for the interim WBC lightweight title on January 2, 2021. Originally scheduled for December 5, 2020, the fight was postponed to January due to Campbell’s COVID-19 diagnosis. Despite being knocked down in the second round, Garcia claimed victory with a seventh-round knockout body shot, marking a significant win in his career.

 

His career faced challenges with scheduled bouts against Javier Fortuna and Joseph Diaz in 2021 being affected by Garcia’s withdrawal for health reasons and later an injury. However, he continued to compete at high levels, facing Emmanuel Tagoe on April 9, 2022, after a long hiatus, and dominating the fight, which led to a unanimous decision win.

 

In July 2022, Garcia faced Javier Fortuna in a super lightweight contest, marking an impressive performance with multiple knockdowns before the fight was stopped by the referee in the sixth round. His next major bout was a catchweight contest against Gervonta Davis on April 22, 2023, in Las Vegas, where Garcia suffered his first professional loss by knockout.

 

Following this defeat, Garcia switched trainers, moving from Joe Goossen to Derrick James in May 2023. He then faced Oscar Duarte on December 2, 2023, securing a victory by knockout in the eighth round. Looking ahead, Garcia is set to fight Devin Haney on April 20, 2024, for the WBC super lightweight title, with an added pre-fight wager regarding the weight limit which Garcia missed, impacting his purse and title eligibility. Despite these challenges, Garcia won the fight via a majority decision, showcasing his resilience and determination in the ring.