No matter what happens in his highly anticipated fight with Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, Ryan Garcia believes there will be no true losers.
Lightweight stars Garcia and Davis recently announced that they will meet in the ring in April, news that gave boxing fans some optimism after another significant fight, the welterweight championship between Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr., fell through. The fight, as reported previously by BoxingScene.com, will take place at a contracted weight of 136 pounds and be distributed on Showtime Pay-Per-View. The fight will also be available for purchase on DAZN. ESPN has reported that the fight will take place on April 15.
In a recent interview with Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take, Garcia was asked to consider the perception that losing to Davis could be a devastating setback to his career (and vice versa).
The native of Victorville, California doesn’t see it that way, saying a loss will not negatively affect either fighters’ undefeated record.
“I just feel like when it’s all said and done, he will be respected even though he lost to me, because I’m going to go down as a great,” Garcia said. “I know that for a fact. He will be respected no matter what, and me as well. This should [be about] how two young fighters are finally fighting each other, not, you know, so much scared of the ‘L’. We’re finally getting it on. Nobody’s scared of [losing].”
Garcia, who is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, mentioned a historical example to prove his point. In June 1980, Sugar Ray Leonard lost to Roberto Duran in their welterweight classic in Montreal. But Leonard would even things up in the infamous “No Mas” rematch five months later in November. Garcia believes his rivalry with Baltimore’s Davis could produce a similar dynamic.
“When Leonard lost to Duran, he came back and won,” Garcia said. “So, that’s the thing. You could lose, but it doesn’t matter when you put on a great fight.”
Both Davis and Garcia are expected to take on “tune-up” fights before their encounter in April. Davis has a 12-round fight with junior lightweight contender Hector Luis Garcia on Jan. 7 in Washington D.C. that will be distributed on Showtime Pay-Per-View. Garcia has also indicated that he will also fight in January.