Garcia confident he'll notch 3rd consecutive upset, ruin Davis' plans
A note to Fight Freaks Unite readers: I created Fight Freaks Unite in January 2021 and eight months later it also became available for paid subscriptions for additional content — and as a way to help keep this newsletter going and for readers to support independent journalism. If you haven’t upgraded to a paid subscription please consider it. If you have already, I truly appreciate it! Also, consider a gift subscription for the Fight Freak in your life.
Hector Luis Garcia is well aware of his underdog status going into his fight with Gervonta “Tank” Davis and that he can upset the best laid plans with a victory. He has embraced that role.
“I took this challenge because I always want to surpass my own limits and go after the very best,” Garcia said this week through an interpreter. “At the end of the day, it’s up to me to be at my best.”
Davis took the fight with Garcia with an April 15 showdown against Ryan Garcia — no relation — already agreed to, which is one of boxing’s most eagerly anticipated fights between two of the sport’s most popular and dynamic fighters.
Hector Luis Garcia, the WBA junior lightweight titlist, is moving up one weight class and aiming to ruin Davis’ spring plans and take his WBA “regular” lightweight belt when they fight on Saturday (9 p.m. ET, Showtime PPV, PPV.com, $74.99), at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The pay-per-view is also available on all major cable, telco and satellite providers in the United States and Canada.
“The real Garcia is right here,” he said. “I don’t care who he’s focused on because I know that I’m the true challenge. Fans are going to see a thrilling fight. It’s going to be a show that everyone is gonna enjoy.”
After the breakout 2022 that Hector Luis Garcia had, it’s no wonder he is so confident heading into the fight. Garcia (16-0, 10 KOs), 31, a 2016 Olympian from the Dominican Republic, scored two significant upsets.
In February, Garcia took a fight with heavily favored Chris Colbert on short notice and scored a decisive 12-round unanimous decision that knocked Colbert from his position as the WBA junior lightweight mandatory challenger in what many viewed it as the upset of the year. Instead, Garcia got the title shot and outpointed Roger Gutierrez on Aug. 20 to take his 130-pound world title.
After the title victory, Garcia began calling out Davis (27-0, 25 KOs), 28, of Baltimore, who will be making his fourth title defense. He said he was willing to defend his 130-pound title against him or move up and challenge for Davis’ belt at 135.
“I feel equally comfortable at 130 and 135 pounds,” Garcia said.
He is brimming with confidence, underdog label be damned.
“Davis in my opinion is a top pound-for-pound fighter and one of the biggest punchers in boxing, so I know going into this fight that I’m an underdog,” Garcia said. “Not a lot of people are giving me a chance in this fight, but that’s what motivates me. I was in the same situation going into the Colbert fight, but this time I had a real training camp. I believe my style will give ‘Tank’ problems. I’m a southpaw with many tricks and I will be using all of them when I step in the ring.”
As big as Garcia’s 2022 victories were, a win over Davis would propel near the top of the sport.
“A victory against ‘Tank’ will solidify me as one of the best fighters in the world,” Garcia said. “I already believe that in my own mind, but the world will realize how good I am after this fight. I didn’t get here by myself. I want to thank my team for all their support. Getting this fight has changed my life forever, but winning it will do wonders for everyone on my team.”
He gives a lot of the credit for his success to trainer Bob Santos, who also found big-time success in 2022. Besides guiding Garcia to a world title, he also led Garcia’s Dominican countrymen Alberto Puello to the vacant WBA junior welterweight title and Carlos Adames to the WBC interim middleweight title.
“Bob Santos, my head trainer, is not only a masterful strategist, but he’s also controlling my diet, so my body is feeling great, and my weight is on point,” Garcia said. “The team I have around me right now is the best one I’ve had in my whole career.”
Garcia, who takes great pride in his heritage, said a win over Davis would continue the impressive recent run of the Dominican’s top boxers.
“Everyone back home will be watching this fight, so I want to make them proud with a great performance,” Garcia said. “Right now, the Dominican Republic is making big news in boxing. Alberto Puello is a world champion and Carlos Adames will be (a full titleholder) soon. All of us are family and we love the support we get from our people back home. Fighters from the Dominican Republic are on the rise and we are here to stay.”
Davis-Garcia PPV lineup
Lightweights: Gervonta Davis (27-0, 25 KOs) vs. Hector Garcia (16-0, 10 KOs), 12 rounds, for Davis’ WBA “regular” title
Welterweights: Jaron “Boots” Ennis (29-0, 27 KOs) vs. Karen Chukhadzhian (21-1, 11 KOs), 12 rounds, for vacant IBF interim title
Welterweights: Rashidi Ellis (24-0, 15 KOs) vs. Roiman Villa (25-1, 24 KOs), 12 rounds, IBF eliminator
Super middleweights: Demetrius Andrade (31-0, 19 KOs) vs. Demond Nicholson (26-4-1, 22 KOs), 10 rounds
Garcia photo: Amanda Westcott/Showtime
Please upgrade your subscription here: https://danrafael.substack.com/subscribe
Thank you so much for your support of Fight Freaks Unite!
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danrafael1/
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanRafael1
Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanRafaelBoxing
Garcia on pts
If Boots and Speedy Ellis were fighting each other on the undercard, I would've bought this PPV. Hector Garcia is David Diaz 2.0, a tough journeyman that found his way into a title. And got a big fight because of it. Likely with the same result. Tank by 9th round KO.