Ryan Garcia makes his long-awaited return to the ring this weekend when he takes on former IBO lightweight world champion Emmanuel Tagoe in Texas.
The undefeated lightweight superstar in the making took a break from the sport at the start of 2021 to focus on his mental health, but now he’s back and ready to take the 135lbs division by storm. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of a top night of boxing in the ‘Lone Star State’.
Where: Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, USA
When: Saturday, 9th April
How To Watch: DAZN will be broadcasting the event with their coverage starting at 2am Sunday in the UK.
Tale of the Tape:
Garcia
Place Of Birth: Los Angeles, USA
Age: 23
Alias: KingRy
Record: 21-0 (18)
Height: 5’10’’
Reach: 70’’
Stance: Orthodox
Last Fight: ‘KingRy’ earned a career-best win against Luke Campbell in his last outing in January last year. Garcia recovered from a second knockdown to stop the British former Olympian in seven rounds.
Tagoe
Place Of Birth: Accra, Ghana
Age: 33
Alias: The Gameboy
Record: 32-1 (15)
Height: 5’8’’
Reach: N/A
Stance: Orthodox
Last Fight: Tagoe hasn’t fought since November 2020, where he beat America’s Mason Menard by majority decision in Hollywood on the Daniel Jacobs vs Gabriel Rosado undercard.
What They Say:
Garcia: “Tagoe is a legitimate contender, I have nothing but respect for him. He has a big opportunity here, he’s been looking for a tough fight, a fight that will make or break him and I am looking forward to a dog fight if it happens to be one.
“I am definitely not looking past him, whether people think he is a good contender or not, and I respect him and I know this will be a good fight.”
Fight Card (Subject to change):
Ryan Garcia vs Emmanuel Tagoe, Lightweight
George Rincon vs Alejandro Frias, Super Lightweight
Gregory Morales vs Katsuma Akitsugi, Featherweight
Hector Valdez vs Daniel Colula Moncada. Super Bantamweight
