By Ian S Palmer
Original article: https://www.sportsbetlistings.com/boxing/ryan-garcia-vs-oscar-duarte-betting-odds-and-prediction/22323/
There’s a pretty good 12-round junior welterweight tilt on tap this Saturday, December 2nd as prospect Ryan Garcia of Victorville, California will be taking on Oscar Duarte of Mexico. The fight from Houston, Texas can be seen live in most nations on DAZN. Garcia last fought in April when undefeated WBA Lightweight Champion Gervonta Davis dropped him in round two and then stopped him in round seven. Duarte last saw action in May when he halted D’Angelo Keyes after the seventh round due to a cut over his eye. Duarte also had him on the canvas in the third and seventh rounds.
The 25-year-old Garcia owns an impressive record of 23-1 with 19 Ko’s for a current knockout ratio of 82.6 per cent. He stands just under 5-feet-9-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 92 rounds since. Along the way, he’s captured the vacant NABF Junior Super Featherweight Title, the NABF, and WBO NABO Super Featherweight Crowns as well as the WBO NABO and WBC Silver Lightweight Titles and got up from the canvas in the second round against Luke Campbell in 2021 to stop him in the seventh round for the Interim WBC Lightweight Belt.
Garcia’s toughest opponents to date have been Davis, Campbell 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 Javier Fortuna, 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. Garcia won a silver medal at the USA Junior National (Under-17) Championships in 2014 when he lost to Devin Haney in the final. He also reached 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 27-year-old Duarte enters the fight with a fine mark of 26-1-1 with 21 Ko’s and has fought 129 rounds since turning pro as a teenager back in 2013. He appears to have just as much power as Garcia as 80.8 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage including his last 11 in a row. The last time Duarte was taken the distance was by Adrian Estrella over 10 rounds in 2019 with Estrella taking a split decision to capture the vacant WBC Continental Americas Lightweight Title. His lone draw was a four-round split decision with Roberto Garcia in 2014.
At 5-feet-9-inches tall with a 71-inch reach, Duarte is the same height as Garcia and possesses a minimal one-inch reach advantage. His best wins have come against Juan Jose Montes, Rey Perez, former world champion Roger Gutierrez, Nestor Armas Hernandez, Humberto de Santiago and Javier Franco. He also stopped Andres Garcia in the fifth round in 2020 to win the vacant NABF Lightweight Title.
Prediction…
Both boxers have great power and skills but Garcia has been dropped by Luke Campbell and stopped by Gervonta Davis. Garcia didn’t really live up to his hype in the fight with Davis and it’ll be interesting to see if he bounces back successfully against Duarte or will be overcome by his opponent’s power. Garcia is slightly younger but I don’t know how mentally tough he is. Garcia needs to keep his chin tucked down and utilize skills to be successful and needs his chin and body to hold out. I can see this fight going either way really but am giving the slight edge to Garcia due to his fine boxing skills.
