A quick and powerful left hook won the interim WBC lightweight title for Ryan Garcia (21-0, 18 KOs). Garcia snuck in a body shot on Luke Campbell, who crumpled. It wasn’t a dramatic headshot. But it was so darn casual that you couldn’t help but watch the punch again.
How the heck did Garcia make that look so easy?
Even after Campbell knocked Garcia to the mat earlier in the match at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, he still managed to control the fight and end it in the seventh round on Saturday night. The legitimacy of the rise of Garcia, a 22-year-old American, seemed to be in question. His social media presence is tremendous. His accomplishments in the ring were less impressive. But this win over Campbell (20-4, 16 KOs) is Garcia’s most impressive of his young career.
RYAN GARCIA KO'S LUKE CAMPBELL 🤯#GarciaCampbell
(via @DAZNBoxing)pic.twitter.com/CU2IML4XZu
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 3, 2021
Here’s what Campbell said about the punch after the match, via ESPN:
“That was the hardest shot I was ever hit with. I tried and tried to get up, but I couldn’t. I felt him coming on, and I was moving back, and when you move back, my body relaxed a little bit, and that’s the exact time he hit me.”
When Garcia hit the mat earlier in the match, some of his doubters on Twitter were saying he didn’t stand a chance and that Garcia’s streak was likely to end with a legitimate challenger. Alas, Garcia handled Campbell just fine, even after taking this massive left hook to the head.
RYAN GARCIA GOT DROPPED 😳#GarciaCampbell
(via @DAZNBoxing)pic.twitter.com/Yi1briv8Dv
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 2, 2021
Garcia told reporters he wants to fight Gervonta “Tank” Davis (24-0, 23 KOs) for his next match.
