Boxing
Ryan Garcia signs lucrative deal with Golden Boy, faces Romero Duno in co-main event of Canelo-Kovalev
Any issues between Ryan Garcia and Golden Boy Promotions appear to be resolved.
The 21-year-old boxing star announced that he signed a multiyear deal to remain with his promotional outfit in what Garcia deemed "one of the most lucrative deals for a prospect" in boxing history.
Terms of the contract weren't revealed.
In addition to that, Garcia also revealed that he would be taking on Romero Duno in the co-main event of the WBO light heavyweight title clash between Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Sergey Kovalev on Nov. 2 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Garcia (18-0, 15 KOs) was originally scheduled to fight Avery Sparrow in the co-main event of the Jaime Munguia-Patrick Allotey card in Carson, Calif. But the fight didn't take place when Sparrow was arrested before the weigh-ins on an outstanding warrant because of a gun charge in Philadelphia. Golden Boy attempted to keep Garcia on the card and have him face Duno on 24 hours' notice. Garcia reportedly asked for more money, considering the short-notice nature of the fight. Initially, Golden Boy president Eric Gomez told the media that Garcia turned it down because Duno was "too tough." Gomez later backed off of those comments, but a deal couldn't be reached between both parties, and Garcia was removed from the card.
Following Gomez's comments, Garcia took to his social media accounts and blasted Golden Boy and said he was tired of getting paid "peanuts." Garcia was also upset by the comments made by Golden Boy CEO Oscar De La Hoya on Monday to the Los Angeles Times, when he said another highly touted prospect in his stable, Vergil Ortiz Jr. was his best young charge, and again sounded off on social media.
Cooler heads prevailed, and Garcia and Golden Boy were able to put their differences aside.
"Actions speak louder than words," Garcia said in a press release. "I'm here today to show everybody that I consider Golden Boy my family and that we're going to be in this together as I fulfill my dreams. Just like I have all the capabilities to become a big star, Golden Boy has all the tools to get me there. But I just want to tell all of our fans: Enjoy the ride!"
When asked about the ups and downs of the past week, Garcia told DAZN's Chris Mannix, "It feels like a little documentary series, it was crazy. But I feel like family fights. Maybe you had a little bit of miscommunication, but we figured it out, and we're all happy and ready to put on the best show Nov. 2."
Early into his career, Garcia signed with the Oscar De La Hoya founded promotion in late 2016. Back then, De La Hoya lauded Garcia as boxing's next superstar. Despite some rocky moments between them, De La Hoya believes he can get Garcia to where Alvarez currently is at in the sport.
"One of our defining features as a company is to develop champions and make them into stars," De La Hoya said. "From the second we discovered Garcia, we knew he was different. We knew he was special. We knew he could move the needle. Besides his amazing talent, he brings an outside appeal that few fighters can achieve. At the same time, he also needs the right environment to develop, and that environment is with us. Under our guidance, I have no doubt that this young, charismatic fighter will become the biggest star in the sport."
