Ryan Garcia: Age, titles, net worth, professional boxing record & next fight

bet365 News Team Updated: May 06 2024 17:30

Everything you need to know about the former WBC interim lightweight champion, Ryan Garcia.

Born:	August 8, 1998
Age:	25
Birthplace:	Los Alamitos, California
Resides:	Los Angeles, California
Nickname:	'The Flash,' 'King Ryan'
Height:	5-9
Reach:	70ins
Stance:	Orthodox
Weigh Division:	Light-welterweight
Professional Record:	25-1-0 (20 KOs)
Amateur Record:	215–15
Next Fight:	TBD

Early career and amateur glory

Garcia first put on a pair of boxing gloves at the tender age of seven. The Californian enjoyed a highly successful career as an amateur and it was his efforts in the unpaid ranks that helped build the hype around the now-25-year-old.

The Flash won 15 national amateur championships, represented the USA at the 2016 Olympic Games and finished with an overall record of 215–15. Garcia turned professional at the age of 17 and all of his amateur success was built in the formative years of his career.

Starting out with Golden Boy

Garcia turned professional in 2016 and his first paid bout was a first-round knockout of Edgar Meza in Mexico.

He secured another first-round stoppage victory over Hector García less than a month after his debut and another opening-round knockout against Luis Lozano followed. Those three victories were achieved in the space of less than four weeks.

The 25-year-old was taken the four-round distance by Cristian Jesus Cruz in July of 2016, but two quick-fire stoppage wins over Jonathan Cruz and Mario Aguirre came next.

Garcia’s performances and fan-friendly style had drawn the attention of some big promoters and in November 2016 the American signed with Oscar de la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions.

Time for titles

Garcia was a 15-time national amateur champion, and in 2017, the Flash had a chance to win his first title in the professional ranks.

The Los Alamitos-born boxer faced Miguel Carrizoza for the vacant WBC-NABF Junior super- featherweight title at the MGM Grand Marquee Ballroom, Paradise, Nevada and the American dispatched Carrizoza in just 30 seconds.

Garcia made two successful defenses of that title before stepping up and winning the vacant WBC-NABF and WBO–NABO super-featherweight titles with a unanimous-decision triumph over Jayson Velez.

The Flash was making a name for himself, but the real chance to shine came in September 2019. The 25-year-old took on Romero Duno for the WBO–NABO and WBC Silver lightweight titles, and while those belts don’t hold a huge amount of value, the bout was featured on the undercard of the huge Canelo Alvarez v Sergey Kovalev showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Garcia took the chance, scoring a stunning first-round knockout success and the hype train was full steam ahead.

World level trials and tribulations

Garcia faced the toughest test of his career when taking on two-time world title challenger Luke Campbell at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas at the start of 2021.

Campbell was a quick and gifted fighter and in round two Garcia faced his first major adversity.

The American was knocked down for the first time in Texas with the fight looking to be heading the way of the Brit. However, Garcia recovered, and rallied, to end Campbell with a body shot in the seventh round, taking his record to 21 fights without defeat.

Destroyed by the Tank

The Flash suffered the first defeat of his professional career when challenging Gervonta 'Tank' Davis earlier this year. Davis is one of the most fearsome fighters in boxing and Garcia was banged to the floor in the second round and then also in the seventh round from a body shot.

The 25-year-old’s suspect defenses were exposed and there were also questions raised over his heart and desire after he failed to get to his feet after the seventh-round knockdown.

Bounce back against Duarte

Nearly eight months removed from the loss against Davis, Garcia returned to the ring in style with an eighth-round knockout of Oscar Duarte in front of a packed house at the Toyota Center in Houston.

"King Ry" impressed in a fight which he needed to perform well off the back of the loss to Davis that earned him plenty of criticism. Garcia moved up from catchweight to super-lightweight for the fight.

Stunning upset over Devin Haney

Garcia stunned the boxing world by defeating two-division champion Devin Haney by majority decision on April 20, 2024.

Garcia entered the bout a massive underdog due to his antics and irregular behavior in the lead up to the fight, but put on a masterclass against the undefeated champion Haney.

Judges scored the fight 112-112, 114-110 and 115-109 in favor of Garcia. Because 'King Ry' didn't make weight before the fight, he did not win the WBC super lightweight belt.