By. Sebastian Portillo – Sports On Air Correspondent
SAN ANTONIO – Six months after absorbing the first loss of his professional career, Ryan Garcia hopes to go back on the winning track when he headlines a spectacular card at the Toyota Center in Houston on Saturday, December 2.
But the road to redemption is not paved in gold as Garcia is set to face a dangerous foe in Oscar Duarte in a 12-round super lightweight battle before an expected sell-out crowd. The bout will be broadcast live on DAZN.
Garcia tipped the scales at 140.2 pounds during Friday’s official weigh-in while Duarte came in at 143 sharp.
A Golden Boy Promotions offering, tickets for the event are priced at $500, $250, $150, $100 and $50. A limited amount of Golden Boy VIP Experience tickets are also available for purchase at the Toyota Center.
Garcia, a 25-year-old Californian (23-1, 19 KOs), is determined to bounce back from his seventh-round loss to Gervonta Davis last April 22 when he was knocked out by a liver shot at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
“I put everything into this fight. You know, for the first time I’m extremely committed in a long time. You know, 2021 was one of the years that kind of broke me, 2022, you know, a big change in me, and 2023 opened my eyes,” Garcia said in the final press conference on Thursday.
Duarte won’t be a cakewalk for Garcia. The veteran from Mexico wields an impressive 26-1-1 record with 21 knockouts.
“This was a dream and it is now a reality. And this Saturday, you’ll see my best version,” Duarte told reporters.
Garcia’s promoter, Hall-of-Famer Oscar De La Hoya, emphasized the peril Duarte presents,describing him as a power puncher who can make any opponent uncomfortable in a brawl.
This bout occurs in the backdrop of an ongoing tension between Dela Hoya and Garcia’s camp.
Despite their pending issues, though, Dela Hoya insists it is “business as usual.” (SP)
