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Maybe Ryan Garcia didn’t answer every question with today’s knockout win over Luke Campbell in Dallas, but it’s hard to say he didn’t answer a fair amount of them, and at the very least, it’s probably time to stop writing him off as an “Instagram boxer” or some sort of total fraud.
Garcia (21-0, 18 KO) came off the canvas in the second round to roar back and end the night in the seventh, finishing Campbell (20-4, 16 KO) with a wicked liver shot that put Campbell down for the count.
Boxing Twitter was highly engaged with this one on both sides of the pond. The Brits, of course, were rooting hard for the 33-year-old Campbell to win, and so were many Americans, to be fair, as the 22-year-old Garcia is a star bigger than his record coming into this fight, and maybe comes out a star bigger than his record still, which breeds some contempt and whatnot, of course.
But in the end, not many people refused to give Garcia his props for this one. Some reactions from the pros at the finish:
Gareth Davies is right but believe me these judges will have Garcia winning everything besides from the 2nd round! Wow that was some body shot from Garcia! Sickener
— Tony Bellew (@TonyBellew) January 3, 2021
That’s a BIG body shot!! #GarciaCampbell
— ShowtimeShawn Porter (@ShowtimeShawnP) January 3, 2021
Some shot that. Shown a lot did Garcia. Did well to get up and then took the fight to Luke.
— Josh Warrington (@J_Warrington) January 3, 2021
Backed up his hype. Fair play #GarciaCampbell
Vicious!!!!! Way to go @KingRyanG with the Liver shot!!!!! That’s how you do it!!!! Wow! Congrats! I’m happy for you kid @DAZNBoxing !
— ClaressaT-rexShields (@Claressashields) January 3, 2021
That was a beautiful liver shot..he faced some adversity and came back to get the ko big time performance #garciacampbell
— JulianJrockWilliams (@Jrockboxing) January 3, 2021
Very good performance after being dropped, but keep the kid away from tank or Lopez anytime soon. He’s to young, to green. 12/18 months then maybe.
— Liam Smith (@LiamBeefySmith) January 3, 2021
He’s got it all to be a mega star, I wouldn’t rush him in with them top ones yet. Fans love him too. Reckon canelo will have a lot to play in his development in the gym also, defence wise.
— Liam Smith (@LiamBeefySmith) January 3, 2021
Congrats to Ryan... but I think the kid the needs more work before stepping in with Tank.
— Gabriel Rosado (@KingGabRosado) January 3, 2021
Nah I know I fuck about but he can defo punch big.
— Sunny Edwards (@SunnyEdwards) January 3, 2021
Ryan Garcia is the business Had an inkling Campbell was a step to far, but he’s the real deal, great watch. #GarciaCampbell
— Michael Conlan (@mickconlan11) January 3, 2021
I said what I said. >
— Mikaela Mayer (@MikaelaMayer1) January 3, 2021
Full credit to Garcia, that was impressive... to get up off the canvas to stop Campbell... very impressive... hype justified
— matthew macklin (@mattmacklin) January 3, 2021
Man questions answered perfectly placed body shot
— Tony Harrison (@Iamboxing) January 3, 2021
F**king gutted watching that, I know it’ll kill Luke that he couldn’t beat that count he’s a proud man, Garcia much better fighter than what we all thought, respect to him on a great performance
— Anthony Fowler (@afowler06) January 3, 2021
That was a mean liver shot
— Umar Sadiq (@TopBoxerSadiq) January 3, 2021
Great Body shot
— Lorenzo “Truck” Simpson (@lorenzo_simpson) January 3, 2021
Stand by my late stoppage prediction. Like this kid Garcia, but still neither him or Campbell are beating Tank.
— Ishé Oluwa Kamau Ali Smith (@IsheSugarShay) January 3, 2021
DAMN
— Lamont Roach Jr (@OneOf1x) January 3, 2021
Don’t let the commentary put you off the fact that flash kid showed some serious substance to come through that fight.
— Dave Coldwell (@davidcoldwell) January 3, 2021
Campbell was landing some great shots throughout - not just the KD.
Great fight.
There’s more to Garcia than Insta! #GarciaCampbell
Wow! Ryan Garcia! #GarciaCampbell
— Jamie Conlan (@JamieConlan11) January 3, 2021
Good fight! #GarciaCampbell
— Shakan Pitters (@ShakanPitters) January 3, 2021
Wow
— Enzo Maccarinelli (@theRealEnzoMac) January 3, 2021
A star has arrived
— Robbie Davies Jr (@RobbieDaviesJr) January 3, 2021
Garcia going all the way
— Tommy McCarthy (@Tommymac90) January 3, 2021
@KingRyanG is a superstar. @DAZNBoxing
— Conrad Cummings (@ChampCummings) January 3, 2021
Great fight, great shot!!
— Scotty Cardle (@ScottyCardle) January 3, 2021
Gutted for Luke though, I thought he had it in the bag there!!
Great fight, congrats both fighters, @KingRyanG has proved to everybody he is for real @DAZNBoxing @GoldenBoyBoxing #GarciaCampbell
— Jason Quigley (@jay_quigley) January 3, 2021
Garcia proved himself! Campbell is a serious fighter anyone in boxing would tell you that! Some shot that!
— Raza Hamza (@real_razahamza) January 3, 2021