Via Jack Tiernan: Athlete Oscar De La Hoya said his plan was for Ryan Garcia to challenge undisputed lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr. and then ‘regular’ WBA champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis.
De La Hoya’s plans for Ryan to face the Kambosos later this year will revolve around the Australian successfully defending his four belts against either Vasily Lomachenko or Devin Haney in June.
One of those fighters will challenge Kambosos Jr. (20-0, 10 KOs) undefeated on June 5 at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.
Meanwhile, 23-year-old Ryan will be busy with his career, taking on Emmanuel Tagoe (32-1, 15 KOs) on April 9 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
This will be Ryan’s first fight with new coach Joe Goosen, who will replace Eddy Reynoso. Ryan and his father, Henry Garcia, decide to swap the busy Reynoso for Goosen to give them more time.
“You are talking to a man who has had seven coaches in his entire career,” Oscar De La Hoya told. Against TV Hub when asked about Ryan Garcia changing coach from Eddy Reynoso to Joe Goosen.
“So changing coaches is always a breath of fresh air,” De La Hoya said. “Ryan Garcia, he picked the right coach, he picked the right man. Joe Goosen will bring out the best in him.
“Joe Goosen is a tough coach. He doesn’t take crap from anyone. He just wants to see his fighters give their best. I think for Ryan, that will be a motivator. That would be when he started practicing with Joe and getting up to speed; He will love it,” De La Hoya said.
Goosen is a strict trainer, and that has to be the ideal man Ryan needs to get him back into action after 15 months of inactivity. Ryan must be busy because he won’t progress with him fighting just once a year.
“He’s going to have a passion for fighting, and that’s exactly what it takes to be a world champion,” De La Hoya said of King Ry.
“One thing about Ryan, people expect him to stay in the fast lane and fight the top guys right now because he has a big social media presence.
“When the time is right, and I want to see Ryan become the champion this year. I want to see the Ryan challenge [IBF/WBA/WBC Franchise/WBO lightweight champion George] For example Kambosos for all titles in the near future.
“When Ryan beats Kambosos, he can go after Tank, and we can make these big events possible in the first quarter of next year. One thing about Ryan. He’s focused, he’s ready and determined to really be the best in boxing,” said De La Hoya.
Too bad Ryan can’t get the first shot against Kambosos as it will be a great battle to see how he handles the Australian’s slick style.
However, Kambosos may not make it past his first title defense against Lomachenko or Haney, and that means Ryan will need to face one of those guys.
Hopefully De La Hoya doesn’t choose to delay bringing Ryan to the world champion for another two years, as he is doing with Jaime Munguia.
We saw that boxer rise to middleweight two years ago, and he is yet to fight for a world title that De La Hoya wants to keep.
If De La Hoya keeps Ryan Garcia around for the next two years, he will outgrow the 135 lb class and will have a harder time potentially trying to win the world title at 140 or 147.
