Ryan Garcia bought again in motion with an eighth spherical knockout win over Oscar Duarte final evening, and now has his sights set on a world title combat.
Requested if he’d be all for combating this weekend’s Devin Haney vs Regis Prograis winner, Garcia stated he could be, and that his focus is a title — however it’s clear his actual focus is, certainly, WBA titleholder Rolando “Rolly” Romero, whom he referred to as out within the ring after the combat.
“I need Rolly, simply to be sincere,” he stated. “I really feel prefer it’s a enjoyable combat. He’s an aggressive, loopy dude. The lead-up could be loopy. I need that. I imply, he has a title — technically. Let’s do it.”
Garcia (24-1, 20 KO) additionally threw some extra photographs at Shakur Stevenson, who had some criticisms of Garcia’s efficiency.
“What can I say? He broke the file for the least punches ever landed. That’s truly a tough factor to do! The truth that he did that was loopy. If he thinks that’s good, it’s what it’s,” Garcia stated, referencing Stevenson’s latest, highly-criticized combat with Edwin De Los Santos.
“I fought a man with energy however I didn’t again down. I went proper to him, stood my floor, moved, I did all of it. He solely confirmed one factor, which was transferring round. His hand wasn’t damage, his coach was telling him to throw it. Let’s cease that narrative proper now.
“He’s simply been a hater because the amateurs, for actual. And I wish to combat him, I’ll beat his ass, I promise you that. I’ve been within the ring with him. He’s cool, however he’s scared on a regular basis. Scared, scared, scared. In a professional combat, it’s not gonna work.”
Extra from Ryan Garcia:
On Oscar Duarte
“His energy was sturdy. I used to be actually stunned about his chin. Within the first spherical, I used to be catching him clear, and it regarded like he was simply eatin’ ‘em. I used to be, like, ‘Rattling! This dude can eat some photographs.’ First, second spherical, I believed he was gonna go by the third, however he stored placing extra stress on, and I needed to attempt to cease his momentum one way or the other.
“He was a troublesome fighter. I knew he was gonna be powerful. … I fought in there. I had a combat with some grit and located a knockout. I feel I did good, particularly for my first combat with Derrick.”
On Duarte’s energy
“This dude does pack a punch. He’s lots slower than me, however each time he hits you, it seems like a rock. … I’m not nervous about it, I take a very good shot, I took a very good uppercut. But when I wish to be a champion, I gotta undergo moments (and) just a little little bit of adversity. My entire profession, I didn’t actually have, ever, any actual adversity, aside from the Tank combat.”
“This was scarier than combating Tank. He had a tough punch. His punch was arduous. That dude hit me so arduous behind the top. It don’t look arduous, however it’s arduous. I used to be extra nervous on this combat than in opposition to Tank. That was a boxing match, he’s transferring round, no matter. However this combat I used to be truly, like, ‘Oh, shit, this dude’s making an attempt to knock my ass out.’ And he has the ability to knock you out. I needed to be cautious.”
On Derrick James’ recommendation within the nook
“He was fairly adamant, like, ‘Why aren’t you utilizing your legs? He’s gonna open up.’ And I used to be making an attempt to remain there and smother him to cease his assault and soften him up just a little bit. He was, like, overly aggressive, I needed to take some steam off his photographs. However then he retains throwing, so I begin transferring once more and locking in with my coach. And (Derrick) was proper, he fell right into a hook.”
On whether or not James gave him the shoulder roll
“Derrick advised me by no means to try this. [laughing] He was, like, ‘Don’t try this shit! You ain’t Mayweather!’ He’ll by no means admit that, however he did say that. I used to be simply doing it, like, let me see if this works. It kinda did, he couldn’t actually hit me for 2 or three rounds, then he figured it out and I’m, like, ‘Neglect this. I gotta return to being me.’”
On when he’ll combat subsequent
“I wish to get again in March. Inactivity actually cursed me. I’ve been boxing since I used to be 17 within the professionals, and I don’t know what number of (lengthy) breaks. You’re not gonna change into a greater boxer that manner.”
On whether or not he sees James as a long-term coach
“I really feel at house in Dallas with Derrick. We’re an ideal match. I’m completely happy to be there and dedicated to it. I do know Derrick believes me. I simply adore it there. I’m able to carry on coaching. He’s an ideal coach, and we labored so arduous. I simply wish to maintain coaching with him and see the place that goes. He stated I’m his final fighter. We’re gonna take all of it the way in which ‘til the wheels fall off.”
