Ryan Garcia destroys Fortuna in six, eyes Tank Davis super fight

LOS ANGELES – Following a fair performance in April, Ryan Garcia turned it up a notch on Saturday as he scored a sixth-round knockout of Javier Fortuna in a junior welterweight affair.

Garcia produced three knockdowns in three consecutive rounds, four, five, and six, all from a left hook. The first knockdown was generated by a left hook to the body, but the subsequent hooks landed right on Fortuna's chin.

After the third knockdown, Fortuna spat out his mouthpiece prior to getting counted out by referee Jerry Cantu.

"I know that I was sharp; I know how good of a fighter I am; I just had to put it all together," Garcia (23-0, 19 KOs) said. "The fight speaks for itself. When I face harder punchers, I box better. I hit hard; it doesn't take a lot to hurt somebody."

Garcia's last two bouts have now been contested at 140 pounds, a weight where he feels most comfortable.

"I'm not going back down to 135 for nothing, but I will fight [Gervonta] 'Tank' [Davis] next," Garcia said. "If 'Tank' wants it at 140 ... let's get it."

The fellow unbeaten Davis, also a star fighter, is a secondary titlist at 135-pounds and a former junior lightweight world champion. However, he did fight at junior welterweight once, scoring an 11th-round TKO of previously unbeaten secondary champion Mario Barrios last June.

Davis-Garcia would be a massive hit, but putting together a deal won't be easy due to the promotional and network divide. Davis is aligned with Premier Boxing Champions and fights on Showtime, whereas Garcia is linked with Golden Boy and fights on DAZN. Given how the Jermall Charlo-Jaime Munguia deal fell apart earlier this year, if we look at this realistically, the bout is unlikely to happen in 2021.

Garcia's breakout performance was a statement following a disastrous 2021. He kicked off the year with a seventh-round knockout of Luke Campbell in a career-best victory, but dropped out of a scheduled bout with Fortuna last July to address his mental health. Then a November bout with former champion JoJo Diaz was scrapped after Garcia suffered a significant wrist injury during training that required surgery. He returned in April following a 15-month layoff to outpoint Emmanuel Tagoe, who didn't appear interested in engaging for much of their 12-round bout.

Garcia faced no such issues against Fortuna, a 33-year-old Dominican who previously held a secondary title at 130-pounds. He consistently beat him to the punch and dazzled with his speed, angles, and feints.

"They told me I was some guy who doesn't care about boxing and who made up mental health [issues]," Garcia said. "It's not weakness. It's strength. It's courage."

The loss for Fortuna marked his second in his last three bouts. He was outpointed by Diaz last July.

With his second fight under the tutelage of Joe Goossen, Garcia has answered those who questioned his decision to leave Eddy Reynoso's stable emphatically. He is ready for a big fight, whether it be Tank Davis, Devin Haney, or another top 140-pounder.

"Let's get the big fights going," Garcia said. "I'm sure Devin can't make 135 either, let's be honest. That dude is big, too. ... None of us are gonna be at 135, let's be real."