Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Ryan Garcia: The Comeback Begins

 

In January of last year, undefeated Lightweight contender Ryan Garcia entered the ring to face former world title challenger and former Olympic Gold medalist Luke Campbell in Dallas, TX. For the then twenty-two year old Garcia, this fight represented a significant step up in class against a more experienced and dangerous opponent.  A fighter who was coming off of challenging for a world championship in his previous bout.  The sport of Boxing can be a complicated one on many fronts, but when it comes to the development of a young fighter, often, the process follows a straight-forward approach. Gradually look to build the fighter against opponents that range from over matched to fringe threats that will allow the fighter to develop before the eyes of an often-skeptical public.  

 

While this process has various elements including the fighter putting in time in the gym learning and developing a skillset, as well as a marketing component for the promoter of said fighter, and such a process will vary in terms of time on a case by case basis, it is usually a fight such as the one Ryan Garcia fought against Luke Campbell that is viewed as potentially the final step towards challenging for a world championship. As was expected by several in the sport including those who cover it like yours truly, Campbell, a former two-time world title challenger did provide Garcia with the test that many had been wanting to see. This included dropping Garcia for the first time in his career with a flush counter left hook in the second round. 

 

To his credit, despite being dropped hard from that counter punch, Garcia was able to get up from the knockdown, regrouped and by round seven where he would score his own knockdown of Campbell with a left hook to the body, which proved to be the fight ender, Garcia was in control of the fight prior to landing that devastating punch that landed on Campbell’s liver and ended the evening for him. Clearly, it was the biggest win to date of Garcia’s career, and he did appear to be on a short list of potential challengers for then Undisputed Lightweight world champion Teofimo Lopez. It was not to be however as Garcia would remove himself from active competition for the remainder of 2021. This was due to his ongoing struggles with his mental health and while it is admirable that he did what he should have done in putting his health and wellbeing as his first priority, there are some who might say that he gave up the momentum he had in the process.  

 

This observer will not be one of those people who will question that as I do believe the issue of one’s mental and emotional health is real and it does show that Garcia understood what was of importance in putting himself first, even after winning the biggest fight of his career and appearing to be on the verge of challenging for a world championship. What has happened since then in terms of Boxing-related business for Garcia is he chose to split with his longtime trainer Eddy Reynoso and his stablemate Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and chose to go back to his trainer from his amateur days in trainer and Boxing broadcaster Joe Goosen, who is long regarded as one of the top trainers in the sport. 

 

After over a year of inactivity, the twenty-three year old Garcia will return to the ring on Saturday, April 9th at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX when he faces top Lightweight contender and former IBO Lightweight world champion Emmanuel Tagoe in a scheduled twelve round bout, which will be fought at a catchweight of 139lbs. Although this fight will technically be fought in the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division, this bout could have implications for the 135lb. Lightweight division that has no shortage of top names looking to maneuver themselves into a world championship bout.  

 

Some may question given the implications that this fight will have on the Lightweight division as to why this bout will be technically fought in the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division. Yours truly can only speculate, but perhaps Garcia’s inactivity played a role in that decision as well as potentially looking to test the waters at 140lbs. It is also important to keep in mind that the immediate future in regard to the World Lightweight championship is already scheduled in undefeated Undisputed world champion George Kambosos being slated to make the first defense of his crown against undefeated WBC number one contender Devin Haney on June 5th in Australia. Should Haney dethrone Kambosos in that fight, there will be an immediate rematch between the two presumably later in the year. While the winner of the bout between Garcia and Tagoe is likely to be on a short list of potential challengers for whomever the winner or winners of those potential two bouts will be, the fact that it will remove the possibility of a challenge for a world championship from the equation for both, at least for the immediate future was likely also taken into consideration. 

 

As for who will be standing across the ring from Ryan Garcia on April 9th, Emmanuel Tagoe is a boxer/puncher with fifteen knockouts in his thirty-two career victories. He has only lost once in thirty-three professional fights, and briefly held the IBO world championship in the Lightweight division so, this is not what some would consider a soft touch for Garcia’s first fight back after a lengthy absence. Tagoe has been a professional since 2004 and his only loss came in his pro debut. The thirty-three year old Tagoe does have a significant edge in experience over Garcia both in terms of total fights fought as well as length of professional experience. 

 

While not particularly well-known here in the United States, Tagoe is capable of making things difficult for opponents as well as having deceptive punching power should the opportunity arise. In thinking of how this fight might be fought, I feel it is crucial for Tagoe to try and pressure Garcia early. It is important to keep in mind that Garcia is after all coming off of a stretch of inactivity and it should also not be overlooked that a lot of the discussion leading up to this fight as far as Garcia is concerned has centered around his split from Eddy Reynoso and Saul Alvarez. Although not necessarily a reflection of Garcia’s preparation for this bout, it does indicate that Tagoe is being viewed if not by Garcia, then by fans and some media as an afterthought, despite the credentials he brings with him into the fight.  

 

Simply put, Tagoe must pressure Garcia, try to make him uncomfortable, and get his respect early in the fight. Despite the addition of Joe Goosen in his corner, if Garcia is not prepared, Tagoe is the type of fighter that can take advantage. For Garcia to be successful in this fight, he needs to get into a rhythm early, but must not get over aggressive as he did for a brief period against Luke Campbell where Campbell was able to catch him with a shot that dropped him. Emmanuel Tagoe is a good counter puncher and if Garcia looks to try to end this fight early, Tagoe can take advantage of openings that might be available to him. 

 

Even though this bout on the surface is about Ryan Garcia returning to the ring, if he is not focused, the ingredients are present for what would be viewed particularly amongst the casual Boxing fan as an upset, despite the experience and pedigree Emmanuel Tagoe brings into this bout. We will see if youth will prevail over experience on Saturday night. 

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.” 

 

Garcia vs. Tagoe takes place on Saturday, April 9th at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX. The card can be seen globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning at 5PM ET/2PM PT with The DAZN Boxing Show: Before The Bell, with the main card beginning 9PM ET/6PM PT. (U.S. Times.)  

 

For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com.  

 

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved. 

 

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Tuesday, April 5, 2022

EMMANUEL TAGOE PLOTS RYAN GARCIA UPSET AFTER SIGNING CO-PROMOTION DEAL WITH PROBELLUM

 Press Release: By Probellum LOS ANGELES, APRIL 5 – Ghanian boxer Emmanuel Tagoe has signed a co-promotional deal with Probellum and DiBella Entertainment – and he is ready to cause a major upset. 

Credit: Probellum

 
Tagoe heads to Texas on Saturday night to face the returning Ryan Garcia, one of the unbeaten stars of a lightweight division brimming with talent. 
 
A former IBO title holder, Tagoe will start as an underdog but ‘The Gameboy’ – widely considered one of the top 10 fighters at 135lbs – cares little about the odds and the man from the proud boxing city of Accra is in a “dangerous” mood. 
 
Garcia is being groomed as the heir to the lightweight throne, but Tagoe is refusing to kneel to ‘King Ry’. 
 
“Nobody is expecting me to win this fight but mark my words; there is an upset on the cards in San Antonio this weekend,” declared Emmanuel Tagoe (32-1, 15KO). 
 
“I respect Garcia’s ability but he’s accepted a challenge against one of the best fighters in the 135lbs division and, let me tell you, it’s a whole different ball game at this level. 
 
“Saturday night will mark the second stage of my career and with the backing of Probellum and DiBella Entertainment, I am determined to show the world what Ghanian fighters are all about.” 
 
Richard Schaefer, President of Probellum, said: “History has shown that Ghana produces world class boxers and Emmanuel Tagoe will remind everyone of that fact in Texas this weekend. 
 
“For Probellum to be able to co-promote Emmanuel and help him reaffirm his position as a flag bearer for boxing in his homeland, is as real honour for our company. 
 
“He is in a brilliant fight with Ryan Garcia and we believe that Tagoe will shock the world on Saturday night.” 
 
"Emmanuel Tagoe is one of the top boxing talents from Ghana and is on a 32-fight winning streak,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. 
 
“He is hungry, determined and dangerous as he enters the biggest fight of his life against Ryan Garcia. 
 
"The attention that Probellum is paying to the Ghanaian boxing scene makes them a natural co-promoter for Emmanuel as his career progresses through Garcia and beyond." 
 
Probellum, the fastest growing brand in the sport, has agreed a promotional partnership with Box Office Sports Promotions in Ghana and signed one of the hottest prospects in the country, the unbeaten Alfred Lamptey. 
 
To keep up to date with all of the news from Probellum’s world class stable of fighters, sign up to the Probellum newsletter or follow Probellum on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook   

 

 

 

 

 

About Probellum    
Launched in September 2021, Probellum is a global boxing promotion and media company, and the fastest-growing brand in the sport. 
 
Probellum’s elite stable of international fighters includes Nonito Donaire, Regis Prograis, Estelle Mossely, Sunny Edwards, Lee McGregor, Donnie Nietes, Dina Thorslund and Muhammad Waseem. 
 
But the company has also recruited the next generation of stars with Peter McGrail, Mark Dickinson and Pat and Luke McCormack and Shabaz Masoud among the young talents under the Probellum umbrella. 
 
Since launching, Probellum has also signed co-promotional partnerships with some of the biggest promoters globally, including DiBella Entertainment (US), Wasserman (Germany), Universum (Germany), GYM (Canada), Maravilla Box (Spain), Team Ellis (Australia), Titov Boxing Promotions (Russia), Volcano Boxing (El Salvador), BXSTRS Promotions (Mexico), PR Best (Puerto Rico) Glozier Boxing (New Zealand), Box Office Sports (Ghana) and LNK Boxing (Latvia).  

 

Material and Photo Courtesy of: Probellum Used with permission. 

 

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.