NEW YORK, NY — Ryan Garcia can most definitely be known as “King Ryan” though the face of boxing is still to be determined, even after his commanding second round knockout victory over Conor Benn Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Garcia retained the WBC welterweight title in his first defense, then we learned more about why he could be the face of the sport. With a devastating left, King Ryan was in control early, decking his opponent Benn on a massive right hand to the face.
An improved Garcia (26-2, 21 KOs) all in all and more mature, 28-years-old with plenty of time to be called the face. The Mexican-American is closing in on removing Canelo Alvarez as the top icon. Beloved in Mexico, Alvarez, the first to unify titles in the super middleweight division, is nearing an end to a Hall of Fame career.
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And proud of his Mexican heritage, Garcia now has that opportunity even though Alvarez was born in Mexico and he wasn’t. He was born and raised in Victorville, California with four siblings who are all proud to have grandparents from Mexico—something Garcia always defends when questioned about his heritage.
Regardless, Garcia is etching into boxing history, and his once faded popularity with boxing fans and those who support Alvarez has hit a new horizon. Garcia can only rise to new heights on a level with Alvarez, a Mexican-American who has improved since his loss to Gervonta Davis and controversial no-contest with Devin Haney.
Image Credit: Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy Promotions
A junior welterweight title win was overturned because of using an illegal substance.
The Haney fight then resulted in Garcia sitting on the sidelines for a year on a suspension that tarnished his image. Last May, stationed outdoors in Times Square, NYC, a return bout against Rolando Romero was devastating. Garcia and his lackluster boxing, a tough loss and right then in there, he was looking at hanging up the gloves.
His father, Henry, changed the strategy and mindset. Garcia was content and had a different style, focus, and better mentality seen after winning the title earlier this year against Mario Barrios.
And we see the difference in the ring, aggression and destined to become that face. The only setback is a welterweight division that poses a challenge. Names like Haney, holder of the IBF title and Teofimo Lopez, the newly crowned WBA champion who dethroned Romero, immediately come to mind.
There is little doubt now that Garcia has been anointed as a true champion of Mexican descent. Celebrating Mexican Independence Weekend, he proudly wore the flags of Mexico and USA in front of over 18,000 fans at T-Mobile Arena Saturday as they cheered on a champion.
Image Credit: Zuffa Boxing
Garcia later provided those thousands with the acknowledgement and millions more watching on Paramount+ and DAZN.
“I think passing of the torch comes naturally and I think this wasn’t forced and I’m happy,” Garcia said after the win. “Give me that torch. I’m ready. I’m ready just to fight everybody.”
There was also that respect between two adversaries with Benn embracing Garcia in the ring, boxing has an unusual way of insults to build up a fight. Benn harped all week about Garcia and his Mexican heritage. Ugly it was, Garcia showed restraint and disposed of the former champion from the United Kingdom who goes home and weighs options of returning to a natural weight of 168 or contest and prove himself again at middleweight.
Head honcho Dana White and Zuffa Boxing, signing Benn to a lucrative contract, was in a position to match him with Garcia who has one more fight under contract with Hall of Fame promoter Oscar De La Hoya. Garcia would not rule out defending his title again on a Zuffa fight card, an interesting storyline coming after the bout.
“At the end of the day, what matters are the fights that are being put on,” said White. “And what my goal is over the next couple of years is to gain the trust of the boxing fans. I want to build that trust back in the boxing fans.”
De La Hoya watched the fight from his home in Las Vegas, White would not provide him a credential. And Garcia originally had a plan to have De La Hoya escort him into the ring.
“Everybody was asking me where he was, and then just to have him walk out with me, I think would have been special,” said Garcia. “But it is what it is. It didn’t happen. I’m here just to do my job, bro. I don’t really try to think of that too much, but would it have been cool to see him there? Yeah.”
Boxing politics for sure, then again it should not diminish or take away the significance of this Garcia win. Perhaps Benn was feeling effects of making weight, rehydrating to a reported 174 pounds when he entered the ring.
Regardless this was Ryan Garcia, renewed and ready to take on his next challenge. Now he has an even stronger left that gets him closer to being called the face.
But the challenges ahead will determine where this goes.
Teófimo Lopez and Garcia have been talking, that could be next towards unifying titles. Paramount+, Zuffa and DAZN are the main players here also with the backing of White and Turki Al-Sheikh who have completely changed the complexion of boxing.
Or a rematch with Haney, long awaited and what boxing fans would anticipate again.
Image Credit: Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy Promotions
Either way Garcia has challenges, he won’t hide because his goal is also to unify.
Lopez, Haney, Garcia reminiscent of the 1980’s era. Remember then it was Hagler, Hearns, Durán, Leonard and boxing was king.
Lopez was in the crowd and ringside, Garcia called him to meet face-to-face. With the UFC model of not allowing challenges to be made inside the cage thanks to White and Zuffa, it got nasty quickly when security held back Lopez.
Nevertheless, Lopez and Garcia could be next in early May of 2027 on Cinco de Mayo weekend, a date that’s always been reserved for Alvarez. But Garcia has always been a box office draw and a fight to unify with Lopez would solidify his standing.
“I think he’s weak in his defense,” Garcia said of Lopez. “I think that people kind of overrate his defense. I think that he’s much easier to hit than people think he is. And I think that I will knock him out. I think that my punch is heavy, and once I crack him, I think that he’ll stumble and I’ll get him out of there. Now, I’m not going to say it’s going to be the easiest fight, but I know I’ll get him out of there.”
Lopez wants the fight, boxing needs it. Haney is the other option but logistics could prevent his title up for grabs against Garcia.
Image Credit: Cris Esqueda/Premier Boxing Champions
Lopez could not be reached for comment but this will continue to be the story towards the progression of boxing this year. Though now we can throw away the doubts, Ryan Garcia continues to make a statement and the welterweight division is on call.
A proud Mexican-American, perhaps one more win on his resume and what others do in the ring and we can call him the face.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com with coverage of MLB, boxing, and MLS – X: @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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