By Ian S Palmer
Unbeaten prospect Ryan Garcia will be taking on former world champion Javier Fortuna of the Dominican Republic in his hometown of Los Angeles this Saturday, July 16th. The 12-round lightweight bout can be seen live in most nations on DAZN. Garcia last fought in April when he beat Emmanuel Tagoe by 12-round unanimous decision after dropping him in the second round. Fortuna last boxed in February when he stopped Rafael Hernandez in the first round.
The 23-year-old Garcia is a perfect 22-0 with 18 big Ko’s so far for a current knockout ratio of 81.8 per cent. He’s 5-feet-10-inches tall with a 70-inch reach and possesses tremendous speed and fine boxing skills. He made his pro debut in 2016 and has boxed 79 rounds since. Along the way, he’s also captured the vacant NABF Junior Super Featherweight Title as well as the NABF, and WBO NABO Super Featherweight Crowns.
Garcia’s toughest opponents to date were Luke Campbell, who he stopped in seven rounds after being dropped in the second, and veteran Jayson Velez, who went the distance with him in May, 2018 only to lose a 10-round unanimous decision for the vacant NABF and WBO NABO Super Featherweight Crowns. Garcia’s also beaten the likes of Carlos Morales, Jose Lopez, Braulio Rodriguez, Fernando Vargas Parra and Noe Martinez Raygoza.
Garcia’s being groomed to be a world champion by promoter Oscar De La Hoya and appears to have all the tools necessary to succeed and was named the 2017 prospect of the year by ESPN. He enjoyed a fine amateur career by going 215-15. He won a silver medal at the USA Junior National (Under-17) Championships in 2014 when he lost to Devin Haney in the final. Garcia made the quarterfinals at the USA Youth National (Under-19) Championships in 2015 and lost to Haney once again. However, he did beat Vergil Ortiz in his opening bout. He then won gold at the USA Youth National (Under-19) Championships in 2016.
The 33-year-old southpaw Fortuna is a former WBA Super Featherweight Champion and interim WBA Featherweight champ and owns a mark of 37-3-1 with 26 Ko’s. His first loss came via an 11th-round stoppage at the hands of Jason Sosa in June, 2016 to lose his Super Featherweight Belt. He then dropped a split decision to Robert Easter Jr in 2018 in a shot at Easter’s IBF Lightweight Title but he came in overweight anyway so had no chance of winning the belt.
His very next fight came against Adrian Granados and it was ruled a no-contest after Fortuna was injured when he fell out of the ring in the fourth round and the bout was halted. He then lost for a third time last July when he dropped a unanimous decision to Joseph Diaz Jr in a shot at the WBC interim World Lightweight Title. His lone draw was a 10-round split-decision affair with Luis Franco back in August of 2013. Fortuna, who fights out the U.S., turned pro in 2009 and has boxed 214 rounds since.
Fortuna captured the WBA Interim Featherweight Title in 2012 via a unanimous decision over Patrick Hyland and won the vacant WBA World Title in May, 2015 by beating Bryan Vasquez via unanimous decision. He stands just over 5-feet-6-inches tall with a wingspan of 68.5 inches and enters the ring with a 3.5-inch height and 1.5-inch reach disadvantage to Garcia. Fortuna also has pretty good power with a current knockout ratio of 60.4 per cent. However, his chin’s questionable as he’s been dropped a few times as a pro. He’s also beaten Abner Cotto, Cristobal Cruz and Miguel Roman.
Prediction…
Fortuna is a solid boxer with good power but he’s facing a prospect who’s 10 years younger and possesses superior skills, speed and power. Garcia has been dropped before as Luke Campbell had him down in the second round but he picked himself up and responded well. It’s highly unlikely that Fortuna will outbox Garcia so his best chance is to try and stop him, but I don’t see it happening. I’m expecting Garcia to come out on top.
