Ryan Garcia is aiming to become the “face” of boxing. And he thinks he can do that with just one fight if he takes on the now 42 year old Manny Pacquiao in the not too distant future.
Garcia is coming off a spectacular knockout win over Britain’s Luke Campbell. He halted the former Olympic gold medallist in the 7th round after being floored heavily in the 2nd round by a left hook in what was an exciting fight.
Now it seems that his options are numerous.
Speaking on his podcast and reported on World Boxing News, Garcia spoke of his plans:
“That’s the dream,” he explained. “With Manny, it’s like he’s the Legend. It would be like passing it down to me in the most humbling way. “I don’t want it to come out as disrespectful. If I were to beat Manny Pacquiao, he passes it on. I take whatever he did (titles in eight weights and transcending the sport). I try to push it.” The youngster continued: “Manny knows my respect for him. “People love Manny because he fights with his heart. He does it to inspire people. “You don’t even have to tell people to respect him. They do as he has more than a country supporting him.”
Last year Garcia spoke highly of the eight weight world champion by saying on nowboxing.com:
“I love Pacquiao, he is one of my inspirations,” Garcia told Fight Hype. “He is what I aspire to be in the ring, you know like Muhammad Ali, Manny Pacquiao. It’s just Manny Pacquiao is so humble, like I’d have to get like that at an older age. Right now I’m so hyped up. I wanna prove myself, I’m hungry. That’s going to be later down the line to be like that. I just don’t have that in me right now, I’m too hungry. But I respect that he is that kinda man. He is a Godly man and I’m a Godly man and we go to the same church.”
While it is good to see a young and exciting boxer like Ryan Garcia say that he wants to fight the best, no fighter has become the “face” of boxing with just one fight. I have always been one to say that just one match can change people’s opinions about a boxer. I still believe that. But becoming the “face” of boxing is an entirely different thing and is a gradual process.
Saul Alvarez is now the face of the sport. But he did not become the one to be the most recognisable with just one fight. Facing the likes of Miguel Cotto, Erislandy Lara and Gennady Golovkin is what did it.
Another important ingredient is promotion. Ryan Garcia might achieve the job of becoming very well known in America by fighting Pacquiao. But that needs to extend beyond the US and to the entire world. And there is a lot to still do in the way of promotion for Garcia to achieve fame on that kind of level.
So, it may happen for him.
Just not after one night’s worth of work.
