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Steve KimESPN
INDIO, Calif. — Lightweight Ryan Garcia has shown that with his vast social media following he has a certain star power. What’s not as clear is just how good the 20-year-old from Victorville, California, really is.
Another victory added to his undefeated record certainly would help.
Garcia did just that Saturday night, easily taking care of Jose Lopez in two rounds at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.
It was clear early on that Garcia (18-0, 15 KOs) was too fast for the carefully selected Lopez (20-4-1, 14 KOs), who couldn’t overcome disadvantages in quickness and height. Lopez was hurt late in the first round, then in the second was stunned by an overhand right before a series of uppercuts sent him to the canvas.
Lopez was saved by the bell, but his corner threw in the towel before Round 3 began.
“I just caught him with that right hand over the top; he kept ducking his head, and I just smacked him wherever he went,” Garcia said. “Boom. It’s like the cobra bag; everywhere he went, I went for it. The first round, I started letting my hands go, because I was going to try to work on some punches. But then I’m like, ‘Man, I’m going to start hitting him.’ And that’s when I knew I could get him.”
It was another flashy display of hand speed and athleticism for Garcia. It also marked his second knockout victory under trainer Eddy Reynoso, who also trains middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez, who was in attendance here Saturday night.
When asked if he is ready for world-class fights, Garcia left no doubts.
“Hell, yes,” he said emphatically.
“For this training camp, nothing changed. I’m training with Eddy Reynoso, one of the best trainers in the world right now. My improvements are even going to get better and better, my fights are going to get better and better, and the competition is going to get better. And I’m going to be ready for it.”
This much is clear: Garcia is as marketable as any young boxer today. But is he truly prepared for the likes of Gervonta Davis, Miguel Berchelt, Tevin Farmer and Masayuki Ito, who are the current belt-holders at 130 pounds?
“He’s on his way, and he proved it again, tonight,” Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya said. “There’s a lot of fans who want to see him win the world title, and it’s going to happen sooner than later.”
Acosta stops Lopez
Angel Acosta, the one world champion on Saturday night’s card, retained his WBO light flyweight title by stopping Ganigan Lopez.
Lopez (35-9, 19 KOs), a lefty, proved an elusive target for much of the night for Acosta (20-1, 20 KOs), who had problems landing consistently on the Mexican challenger. But in Round 8, he landed a chopping left hook that had Lopez reeling and trying to hold on desperately to Acosta, who suddenly found an opportunity to end things abruptly and attacked Lopez aggressively.
After Lopez hit the canvas, referee Raul Caiz waved off the proceedings.
“We did all the work we did in the gym,” said Acosta, who is trained by Freddie Roach.
Acosta’s one loss was to highly regarded champion Kosei Tanaka of Japan in 2017. He has since won four consecutive bouts.
Acosta made it clear what he wants next.
“I want to unify, but I also want to get the big purses. I want the big money,” the 28-year-old Puerto Rican said.
Hernandez improves to 28-0
A name to look out for in the junior lightweight division is Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez, who improved to 28-0 (25 KOs) by stopping the overmatched Ibrahim Class (22-6, 10 KOs) in just two rounds.
After a slow start in Round 1, during which Hernandez slowly stalked his opponent from Tanzania, he applied pressure in the second round and sent Class down to the canvas twice, giving referee Thomas Taylor no choice but to wave off the fight.
“I showed my ability in there,” Hernandez said. “This year, I plan to show everyone the Mexican style we all love. I also want the world to know who Rocky Hernandez is. Hopefully, I can get a world title shot by the end of the year.”
Hernandez, 21, is the WBC’s second-rated 130-pounder. He recently was signed to a co-promotional deal with Golden Boy.