Home Columns Ryan Garcia vs Javier Fortuna – Results & Post-Fight Report

Ryan Garcia vs Javier Fortuna – Results & Post-Fight Report

Garcia calls out Tank after stopping Fortuna

By
Jonathan Nagioff
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Ryan Garcia knocked out Javier Fortuna in the sixth round of their clash in Los Angeles on Saturday Photo Credit: DAZN Boxing Twitter
Ryan Garcia knocked out Javier Fortuna in the sixth round of their clash in Los Angeles on Saturday Photo Credit: DAZN Boxing Twitter

Ryan Garcia called for a mouthwatering showdown with Gervonta Davis after destroying Javier Fortuna in six rounds in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Garcia (23-0, 19 KOs) dropped Fortuna (37-4-1, 26 KOs) three times, with the former super featherweight world champion failing to beat referee Jerry Cantu’s count after the third and final knockdown in the sixth round at Crypto.com Arena.

The pair were scheduled to face each other last July, but Garcia withdrew after revealing that he’d been suffering with mental health issues.

Garcia, who comfortably beat Emmanuel Tagoe in March, had a height and reach advantage over Fortuna heading into the clash which was made at 140lbs at the request of the visitor.

The home favourite looked sharp and spiteful from the outset, flicking out rapid jabs and connecting with straight right hands in the opening round.

Fortuna was circling the 23-year-old and the tricky southpaw was being made to miss, although he did land a crisp jab that snapped the Californian’s head back in the second.

‘King Ry’ finished the round the stronger, unloading with combinations as the Dominican struggled to find a measure his rival’s speed.

The 33-year-old was continuously looking for an overhand right, but Garcia kept focused and was blocking his attempts to land the shot which Luke Campbell knocked him down with 18 months earlier.

The pressure from Garcia showed by the fourth round, as a hard left hook to the body dropped Fortuna to the canvas.

‘El Abejon’ was afforded some crucial few extra seconds to recover after his gum shield fell out and he was taken to the corner by the referee for it to be cleaned.

Garcia was unrelenting, however and after landing fierce blows to head and body as the round drew to a close, he had Fortuna down again in the fifth round, this time after a well-timed left hand to the head.

The end appeared imminent and Garcia sensed it in the sixth round, landing a three-punch combination to floor Fortuna for a third time.

This time the 33-year-old’s race was run and he failed to get up after being given the full ten count.

Garcia, who extended his unbeaten record to 23 straight wins, became just the second man to stop Fortuna and the quickest of all his opponents.

‘King Ry’ confirmed that his future belongs at 140lbs despite some potential mega showdowns against undisputed champion, Devin Haney and Vasiliy Lomachenko both possibilities at 135lbs.

Garcia had his sights set on a long-awaited clash with Gervonta Davis.

“I’m not going back down to 135lbs for nothing,” he told DAZN’s Chris Mannix post-fight. 

“But I will fight Tank next. If Tank wants that at 140lbs. 

“I’m gonna record all the negotiations so you can’t say I’m ducking. That fight’s gonna give me the respect I deserve. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

Rocha eases past Veron

Alexis Rocha secured the vacant WBO NABO welterweight title with an almost shutout points win over Luis Alberto Veron (19-5-2, 9 KOs).

Rocha (20-1, 13 KOs) struggled to show the same explosiveness which saw him knockout Blair Cobbs in March, however two scores at 100-90 and one at 99-91 were reflective of his dominance.

Roach Jr outpoints Rodriguez

Lamont Roach Jr (23-1-1, 9 KOs) kept on track for another world title shot, comfortably outscoring Angel Rodriguez (20-2, 10 KOs).

The 26-year-old super featherweight, who is ranked at four with the WBO rocked Rodriguez in the fifth round and largely dominated the contest, taking it with two scores at 116-112 and another at 117-111.

Remaining Undercard

David Jimenez (12-0, 9 KOs) knocked down Ricardo Rafael Sandoval (20-2, 15 KOs) in the eleventh round on route to a majority decision victory in their flyweight contest.

At minimumweight, Oscar Collazo extended his unbeaten record after climbing off the canvas to defeat former world champion, Victorio Saludar.

Saludar (21-6, 11 KOs) was hurt by a body shot in the seventh and touched the canvas after two further blows from Collazo (5-0, 3 KOs), although the Puerto Rican prospect was down himself moments later with an uppercut causing a flash knockdown.

Two scores at 116-112 and another at 118-100 confirmed Collazo’s win on the cards.

Mexican super bantamweight, Diego De La Hoya (23-1, 11 KOs) returned after over two years out scoring a fourth round knockout over Enrique Bernache (24-14, 12 KOs) in their rematch, whilst lightweight prospect, Miguel Gaona (3-0, 2 KOs) stopped Abdiel Padilla (1-3, 1 KO) in the opening round. 

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