Boxing
Ryan Garcia's trainer says he needs 'two or three more fights' before facing Devin Haney, Gervonta Davis
Ryan Garcia has been chomping at the bit for the biggest fights possible.
Following his first-round destruction of Francisco Fonseca in February, the 21-year-old made it clear that he's taking aim at the likes of Gervonta Davis and Devin Haney in hopes of lining up those fights over the next 18 months. Although the timing for those plans have been derailed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Garcia's head trainer, Eddy Reynoso, believes that his fighter needs a few more fights before stepping into the rings with those names.
“I would like him to have a couple more fights, because in the last three fights we have only fought for a combined four rounds," Reynoso said in an interview with ESPN Deportes. "He still needs to learn more, fight with boxers who can give him a battle, boxers who are giving him things to work on inside the ring,"
But Reynoso isn't saying that Garcia doesn't have the ability to take out the likes of Haney and Davis. Instead, it has more to do with gaining more experience, and Reynoso doesn't believe the past two short outings have properly set up Garcia for the next tier of fighters.
"We are missing two or three more fights, not because he cannot beat [the top guys] right now, he can beat anyone, inside the ring he can beat a champion, but a few more fights are needed to increase the possibilities [of do so], to get more in terms of learning and training," Reynoso continued." He needs a little more experience and let's see if this can be achieved this year.”
Reynoso concedes that Garcia has "not really beaten anyone" despite being incredibly impressive in his last two fights. The man who also trains Canelo Alvarez suggests that the future is bright for his charge, but he wants to make sure that Garcia is prepared for the biggest names in his division.
"I think we still have a long way to go to become a great champion," he said. "We have to keep working, we have to keep learning and beating top-notch fighters. He is in a very good moment right now, we need to learn more, but with discipline and as he continues he will go a long way."
