“GARCIA READY FOR WORLD TITLE!”

Golden Boy boss Oscar De Lay Hoya is ready to step up Ryan Garcia (19-0, 16 KO’s) in 2020 and take on the best in the 135 division. The young superstar is set to face tough Nicaraguan, Francisco Fonseca (25-2-2, 19 KO’s) tomorrow night which will be shown live on DAZN at 9:00 p.m. ET.

It’s Garcia’s first fight of the year in a 12-round title battle for the WBC Silver Lightweight Championship at the Honda Center, in Anaheim, California. Garcia chose Fonseca for comparison purposes as he has only lost to the best – firstly to Tank Davis in 2017 inside 8 rounds and a one-sided points loss to former IBF Super Featherweight champion, Tevin Farmer.

Garcia is keen to see how he ranks up against similar opponents and he will need to be dominant in his win if he is expecting to move up to face one of the big boys at 135. Garcia, currently ranked #2 WBA, #4 WBC, #6 WBO said, “2020 is the year to show everyone that I’ve got the skills and talent to take on bigger challenges. I’ve been working hard and training every day, and I’ve sacrificed a lot of things to become a better fighter. Francisco Fonseca is a tough fighter, and this gives everyone a chance to see how good I am. I’m ready, so let’s show everyone that boxing is here to stay.”

Garcia has been training with Saul Canelo Alvarez’s trainer Eddy Reynoso since October 2018 and says he’s constantly improving. “Before, I was at my house, and everyone could come over and see what I’m doing. It kind of distracted me, you know? But every day I’m improving. Ask Eddie when I got here, and now. I’m a whole different fighter,” said Garcia. “I feel dangerous and complete,” said Garcia. “And I can do everything. I know what I’m doing, and I use my defence. My offense has always been there, but now my defence is just way better.”

If Garcia impresses tomorrow, we may see him step up and fight for a world title in 2020 and Garcia is pushing to make a fight with Tank Davis in December this year. “In order to be great, you need to do something great and I can’t be great if I’m always expected to win. So, if I beat Gervonta Davis, the fight I want, the fight that every gives me no shot, then I have the chance to be great!” Garcia predicts a stoppage victory against Gervonta Davis and told ESPN, “I feel like I’d take him out in the 8th round”

“Ryan is ready for a championship fight this year.” De La Hoya said. “I have something to say: Mayweather is the promoter of Tank, he has people who work with him and he is his promoter. And if Floyd wants to give me a rematch, let’s do it. He has his fighter, I have Ryan Garcia, and if Ryan wins this Friday the 14th, let’s make the fight. Promoter against promoter, fighter against fighter, it will be a big fight.”

Before that fight though, Golden Boy are keen to match Garcia against Venezuelan Jorge Linares. Linares is fighting on Ryan’s undercard this Friday against Carlos Morales. If Garcia and the former three division world champion Linares both win in flying colours, then you can expect to see them battle this summer. If the tank fight doesn’t happen in late 2020, a matchup against Devin Haney could be the next best option. This would be an easy fight for Golden Boy Promotions to make since both fighters fight on DAZN and Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn is not afraid to take risks.