Ryan Garcia vs. Luke Campbell - January 2, 2021

[Ruthless-RKO]

Garcia-Campbell Interim Title Fight Heads To Fantasy Spring Casino

Weeks after finally securing a fight date, the interim lightweight title fight between Ryan Garcia and Luke Campbell officially has a home.

The December 5 crossroads bout between current perennial Top 10 contenders will stream live on DAZN from Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California. The location has served as fight headquarters for Golden Boy Promotions post-pandemic, with the team on site for the official announcement during Thursday’s pre-fight weigh-in for Friday’s middleweight clash between Jaime Munguia and Tureano Johnson.

Garcia (20-0, 17 KOs) will fight at the intimate, fan-friendly venue for the third time in his young career. The last such occasion came last March, scoring a 3rd round knockout of Jose Lopez. The 22-year old lightweight—who is trained by Eddy Reynoso—has since added a pair of explosive 1st round knockout wins over ledger, blasting out Romero Duno in 98 seconds last November in Las Vegas and taking out Francisco Fonseca in just 80 seconds this past Valentine’s Day in front of a sold-out crowd at Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

Campbell (20-3, 16 KOs) makes his first appearance at the venue and just third overall in California. The 2012 Olympic Gold medalist from Hull, England traveled abroad for the first time in a tune-up level knockout win in August 2014. His next trip resulted in a narrow split decision defeat to then lightweight titlist Jorge Linares in their thrilling September 2017 clash at The Forum in Inglewood, California.

Three wins followed for Campbell before coming up short in his three-belt title bid versus then-unified titlist Vasiliy Lomachenko last August in London.

The winner of the bout will own an interim version of the lightweight title currently held by Devin Haney (24-0, 15 KOs), all of whom will remain in pursuit of recently crowned lineal 135-pound champion Teofimo Lopez.

A decision as to whether fans and media will be permitted to attend the December 5 show will be revealed by Golden Boy in the coming days.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Campbell has COVID.

Fight postoned.

[gregregegg]

fornicating covid. was realy looking fowards to this one. is garcia going to fight on the date? He should, has fought under 10 mins since 2018...

[Ruthless-RKO]

Ryan Garcia vs Luke Campbell “most likely” to land on December 19th

Good news for those bummed by Luke Campbell’s positive COVID test scrapping his December 5th meeting with Ryan Garcia. Oscar De La Hoya tells Mike Coppinger that the fight will “most likely” land just two weeks later on December 19th, as Campbell “was already 10 days into quarantine” when word came of the positive test.



If that date sounds familiar, it’s because that’s also when Canelo Alvarez intends to make his first appearance as a free agent. I could very easily see Golden Boy trying to pit the two cards head-to-head in an attempt to prove that they can operate just fine without their biggest star; that said, if Canelo does end up facing a Matchroom fighter like Callum Smith or Billy Joe Saunders, someone’s going to have to back down.

Whatever the case, it’s good to hear that we won’t have to wait much longer for a very intriguing lightweight matchup.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Garcia has said he actually wants to be on Canelo's undercard. Canelo may fight on DAZN against Cal Smith.

[Ruthless-RKO]

May now be Boxing Day..

[Ruthless-RKO]

Rescheduled .. start of the year

[black panther]

The plot thickens

[Ruthless-RKO]

Campbell has not been knocked out in seven years as a pro.

[Thomastearns]

This is all falling into place for Garcia and his backers.

Boxings big names are getting stale and no amount of protestations that they're doing it for the fans can hide their avariciousness (yes you Canelo and Crawford!).

No amount of empty platitudes can disguise their deliberate avoiding of top rivals or their unwillingness to fight mandatories. They seem incredibly reluctant to fight. Their only interest is milking their fans - that's it.


Ryan Garcia now finds everything falling into place, even Mr Covid is doing his bit for him.

Suddenly this is looking like THE fight that will show the future of professional boxing. For sure there are other candidates, but Garcia has all demographics in his favour unlike others such as Inoue or Dubois etc.

Could Garcia be boxing's equivalent of Elvis in 1954? Or will he bottle it?

[bobcatbox]

Campbell has not been knocked out in seven years as a pro.

I originally was leaning towards Garcia by KO when this fact dawned on me as well. Never been KOed and fought Linares and Loma. He can go the distance with Ry.

[Ruthless-RKO]

De La Hoya Plans To Stage Garcia-Campbell On Cancun Beach or Near Aztec Pyramids

Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya is planning an exotic location to host his company’s next event, which is scheduled to be headlined by rising lightweight star Ryan Garcia taking on Luke Campbell for a vacant interim world title.

They are due to fight on Jan. 2 in the main event of a DAZN-streamed card after the bout initially had been scheduled to take place on Dec. 5 at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California, but postponed earlier this month when it was disclosed that Campbell had tested positive for Covid-19 and was unable train.

Now that Campbell is OK and back in training the fight has been rescheduled, and while De La Hoya and his team enjoy a strong relationship with Fantasy Springs, which has long been its go-to site, De La Hoya has other ideas for Garcia-Campbell. He wants to stage the event on a Mexican beach or in front of pyramids.

“I haven’t announced the location but starting in the new year obviously things are different now and we’ve got to think about and promote the non-traditional way because we don’t have fans (able to attend most events),” De La Hoya told Boxing Scene on Tuesday. “Maybe you can have 20 percent (capacity of an arena with) fans in Texas so, you know, I have to start thinking way outside the box and I want to create events. I want to create events that are going to make news, events that are going to be promoted differently.”

That is where the site comes in for Garcia-Campbell, De La Hoya said.

“The venue is going to be now very significant, meaning I want people who are watching on TV, who are watching on a digital platform, to be impressed by where the event is being staged at.

“With Ryan Garcia, I’m looking at places in Cancun and staging something maybe outdoors on the beach or staging something in front of the Aztec pyramids... which has never been done.

“So, it’s very significant. Everything that’s happened with the pandemic, it’s put us in a position where we have to be on our toes and think differently as a promoter and think outside the box. So, it’s re-motivated me to really promote a fighter and make him a bigger star than what he is.”

So what are the chances that Garcia-Campbell really does wind up taking place outside on beach in Cancun or in front of the picturesque backdrop of the Aztec pyramids?

“We’re exploring it and it’s highly probable that we go there,” De La Hoya said.

When Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn was able to bring his company’s events back with a four-week series of cards this past summer he also wanted an interesting site and wound up staging his “Fight Camp” shows at Matchroom’s headquarters in Brentwood, England – in the massive garden with the estate’s mansion as the backdrop.

De La Hoya wants a similarly intriguing venue for Garcia.

“Ryan is a fighter who deserves to be in these types of events that are different,” De La Hoya said. “You don’t want to do the same venue, going to (Las) Vegas or to Texas or fighting at Fantasy Springs Casino. You want to be part of history and this would be historical, mix it up a little bit. I never fought with an Azteca pyramid as my backdrop.”

If Garcia (20-0, 17 KOs) defeats two-time world title challenger Campbell (20-3, 16 KOs), 32, a southpaw from England and a 2012 Olympic gold medalist, De La Hoya said it will be the start of what he hopes is a big 2021 for the 22-year-old from Victorville, California.

“I have huge plans for Ryan Garcia; 2021 we most definitely want to get him in there with the top guys,” De La Hoya said. “He’s been talking a lot about (lightweight and junior lightweight titlist) Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, which I love the fight. I would make that fight in a heartbeat, but first things first. Luke Campbell is no walk in the park.”

[bobcatbox]

Campbell has not been knocked out in seven years as a pro.

Yeah, and he’s faced some decent punchers too. I think Ry will have to take a decision. His biggest test yet, and it’s what he wanted.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Garcia has vowed to KO Campbell in 3 rouns..

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release | Fight Lands at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas

Golden Boy Promotions has announced that Ryan Garcia vs. Luke Campbell is headed to American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas atop of a stacked card of international action. The event will feature Nicaraguan twin brothers Rene and Felix Alvarado defending their world titles against internationally ranked contenders, along with the return of world champion Franchon Crews-Dezurn and a wide array of undefeated prospects.

The fights will take place on Saturday, Jan. 2 and will be streamed live worldwide exclusively on DAZN.

“Boxing is a sport that reaches all corners of the map; after nearly a year at home what better way to bring in 2021 than with a card full of champions, contenders and prospects from all over the world?” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “They say that everything’s bigger in Texas, so I couldn’t think of a better place to welcome the newest superstar in boxing.”

In the co-main event, Rene “El Gemelo” Alvarado (32-8, 21 KOs) puts his WBA Super Featherweight World Title on the line against Roger “The Kid” Gutierrez (24-3-1, 20 KOs) in a 12-round fight.

Alvarado is a 31-year-old world champion of Managua, Nicaragua who has fought the likes of Robinson “Robin Hood Castellanos, Jayson “La Maravilla” Velez, Danis “Djingis Khan” Shafikov, Carlos “The Solution” Morales and Andrew “El Chango” Cancio, the man he beat to become a world champion. Alvarado hopes to retain his title in a rematch of his 2017 bout against Gutierrez.

“Despite many delays due to COVID-19, my desire to defend my world title on January 2 is much stronger than ever,” said Rene Alvarado. “At the same time, I am happy because I now know that my brother will be with my that night in Dallas, Texas defending his world title as well. It will be a historic night for Nicaraguan boxing to see a pair of twin brothers defending their championships at the highest levels of the sport. I will keep training hard as always, and we will do anything necessary to retain the title.”

Gutierrez is a Venezuelan contender who recently turned his career around by knockout out rising prospect Rocky Hernandez. After two additional wins, the 25-year-old earned his first world title shot against the man who handed him his first loss as a professional.

“Once again I want to thank God, the World Boxing Association and Golden Boy for this great opportunity,” said Roger Gutierrez. “While we have had many setbacks with this bout, I have used this additional time to fine-tune my skills to be as fit as ever to defeat Rene Alvarado in this rematch. It will be an honor to grant Venezuela a new world champion and avenge my first loss in Dallas, Texas.”

Felix “El Gemelo” Alvarado (35-2, 30 KOs) will defend his IBF Light Flyweight World Championship against DeeJay Kriel (16-1-1, 8 KOs) of Boksburg, South Africa in a 12-round battle. Felix, who is the twin brother of Rene, will fight for the first time after signing with Golden Boy.

“This year has been very difficult for the world,” said Felix Alvarado. “Personally, it’s been difficult because I haven’t been able to make my debut as an official Golden Boy fighter and defend my world title. But this January 2, I’ll have the opportunity to do so alongside my brother. This fills me with a lot of pride and joy. I hope to deliver to all a great fight to start a new year that will without a doubt be better for everyone.”

“I’m ready to become a two-time, two-division world champion after I beat Felix Alvarado,” said DeeJay Kriel. “This is my time to showcase my skills. 2020 was a difficult year for everyone, but I can’t wait to get 2021 started on the right foot. Make sure to catch the action live on DAZN!”

Unified super middleweight world champion Franchon “The Heavy-Hitting Diva” Crews-Dezurn (6-1, 2 KOs) of Baltimore, Md. will face Ashleigh Curry (8-13-4, 1 KO) of Saint Joseph, Mo. in an eight-round super middleweight bout.

2016 Olympian Raul “Cougar” Curiel (8-0, 6 KOs) of Tampico, Mexico and Ferdinand “Lucky Boy” Kerobyan (14-1, 9 KOs) of North Hollywood, Calif. will clash in a 10-round battle between two Golden Boy welterweights. This bout promises to deliver a winner who will make waves in the division.

Blair “The Flair” Cobbs (14-0-1, 9 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada will defend his NABF Welterweight Title in a scheduled 10-round fight against Issouf Kinda (18-5, 7 KOs) of the Bronx, N.Y.

Sean Garcia (5-0, 2 KOs), the native of Victorville, Calif. who is the younger brother of Ryan Garcia, will participate in a six-round lightweight fight.

Hawaiian prospect Asa Stevens will make his professional debut a four-round bantamweight fight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Luke Campbell on Ryan Garcia: All I Can Do is Try To Keep it Out of Judges' Hands

Olympic gold medal winner Luke Campbell is making a lot of sacrifices for his upcoming clash with rising superstar Ryan Garcia.

Campbell, 33-years-old, will miss Christmas with his family as he heads to the United States to get ready for upcoming clash with Garcia on January 2 for the vacant WBC interim-lightweight title.

“It is hard. But I have to keep reminding myself that what I am doing is all for my family. I want to be a world champion for me, I have to be selfish in how I live my life," Campbell told The Sun.

“But the extras that come with being a world champion are for my family, so they will be secure and free to find much easier jobs than being punched in the face for a living! I have been away in camp for so many months now, it was only during the first lockdown where I got some time at home, so at least now I know the light is coming at the end of the tunnel.”

Campbell has three defeats on his record - and two of them in world title fights - against Jorge Linares and Vasiliy Lomachenko. He also lost a decision to Yvan Mendy - later avenged in their 2018 rematch.

The loss to Linares, which took place in California, happened in 2017. And the loss to Lomachenko occurred last year in the UK.

Campbell (20-3, 16 KOs) realizes the odds are stacked against him, as he travels overseas to face a boxer many view as a possible mega-star in the sport.

“I try not to think about whether I need a knockout or stoppage. But I would be kidding myself if I did not think it has to be convincing. All I can do is try to keep it out of the judges’ hands," Campbell said.

“I will find him out. Unless he really is this unbelievable talent and has been dedicated for his whole life — like I have — I will be coming back with a win and I will go on to become world champion.”

[bobcatbox]

Can’t see Garcia knocking him out. Campbell went the distance with Linares and Loma. Ry has some nasty hand speed and I respect the talent immensely, but I think we’re about to see the young guy tested like he hasn’t been before.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Luke Campbell Dismisses Ryan Garcia's Training Clips: It All Looks Good on Video

Olympic gold medal winner Luke Campbell is not concerned for a moment with the popular training video clips that are being posted by his upcoming opponent, Ryan Garcia, who has a huge following on social media.

Campbell (20-3, 16 KOs), 33-years-old, has dropped competitive decisions in his two most high profile fights - world title challenges against Jorge Linares (2017) and Vasiliy Lomachenko (2019).

Garcia (20-0, 17 KOs), 22-years-old, is a rising star in the sport and many experts view the upcoming contest as a true test of his worth in the ring.

"I don't know a lot about him except that he's got a huge profile on social media, a hell of a lot of followers," Campbell told ESPN. "When you have that amount of followers, you have to keep them interested with stuff, videos. For me, I prefer to just live my life. I've not followed his career. I've had no reason to.

"It all looks good on video, but there's plenty of kids out there who can hit the pads quickly -- but not look good in the ring. You can throw 1,000 uppercuts in 5 seconds on the pads. But it's not real. There's no one in front of you trying to take your head [off], just someone holding the pads."

Their fight, which is being carried on DAZN, is taking place on January 2nd at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

The winner will walk away with the WBC's interim-lightweight title - earning a shot at the full world champion Devin Haney.

"It's a great opportunity for the winner," Campbell said. "I feel like I'm coming into my prime and I've not hit my peak yet or shown what I'm capable of. It's taken me longer than other people to adjust into the pro game, to find my feet. I feel as if I'm just getting there.

"I want to be a world champion. I'm probably about 70 percent more well known than other world champions out there, and that's something I've also wanted to achieve -- to be well known by boxing fans for fighting at world-class level."

[Ruthless-RKO]

Garcia has said beating Campbell is better than beating Loma..

[margaret thatcher]

ya, that makes total sense doesnt it

[lazboy]

I’m still picking Campbell....

If Garcia beats Campbell (without controversy) no 1 I will be forced to respect him and huge credit to him. No 2, amazing job by the Reynosos.

Now, I will definitely not use it as an excuse but will a Covid diagnosis impact Campbell?reduced gym time a factor but what about his health in general. Covid affects the lungs among other things. Interesting to ponder .

[lazboy]

Can’t see Garcia knocking him out. Campbell went the distance with Linares and Loma. Ry has some nasty hand speed and I respect the talent immensely, but I think we’re about to see the young guy tested like he hasn’t been before.

Yes. This is a fight that answers questions.

[lazboy]

Guys, scrolling through the pages and I can’t see a prediction by the all mighty EO. He’s on such an amazing roll and I want to be sure before I bet money. Lend us your thoughts your worship.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Guys, scrolling through the pages and I can’t see a prediction by the all mighty EO. He’s on such an amazing roll and I want to be sure before I bet money. Lend us your thoughts your worship.

There's a similar thread on the British/Irish forum..

Nothing there either..

[lazboy]

Guys, scrolling through the pages and I can’t see a prediction by the all mighty EO. He’s on such an amazing roll and I want to be sure before I bet money. Lend us your thoughts your worship.

There's a similar thread on the British/Irish forum..

Nothing there either..

Maybe he only does predictions when there’s an overwhelming favourite.