Ryan Garcia comes back after getting dropped to KO Luke Campbell in round 7 (Video)

Ryan Garcia was tested early by Luke Campbell in their lightweight bout, but Garcia showed a chin and a destructive left hand that won him the fight. 

Ryan Garcia and Luke Campbell kicked off boxing in 2021 in a big way from the American Airlines Center in Dallas on Jan. 2. Campbell was widely expected to be the biggest test of Garcia’s career. He tested the young fighter’s chin but couldn’t stop Garcia’s rise and first title win.

Going into their battle, Garcia was the odds on favorite by a slight margin. Garcia’s (21-0, 18 KOs) power, youth, and hand speed provided the rationale for him being the favorite. However, Campbell had more experience as both an amateur and a professional. Campbell was the Olympic gold medalist at the 2012 London games, but he also lost his previous two shots at a world title, and he didn’t get the interim WBC lightweight belt against Garcia.

Garcia came out aggressively in round 1. He walked down Campbell and tried to utilize his left hook around the southpaw’s lead hand. Garcia then tagged Campbell with a stout, straight right hand that got Campbell’s attention.

Campbell (20-4, 16 KOs) went to Garcia’s body early in round 2 with the straight left hand. Garcia countered with his right and pressed the action at times. With a bit of a lull in the action, Campbell shocked the Dallas crowd and Garcia with an overhand left that dropped Garcia. Garcia got up and looked steady on his feet to close the round.

Ryan Garcia showed some weakness against Luke Campbell but even more strengths as he ended the fight in style

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Garcia calmed down in round 3 but Campbell still connected with lefts high and low. When Garcia flurried, Campbell caught most of Garcia’s punches on his gloves.

About midway through round 4, Garcia hit Campbell with a straight right that briefly hurt Campbell. Campbell returned fire with a left to Garcia’s nose in a fairly even round.

Garcia was having a strong round 5. Things suddenly came to a climax when Garcia nailed Campbell with a hard left hook to the head that badly hurt Campbell shortly before the bell rang. The bell saved Campbell, who looked out on his feet.

Garcia came out to finish the show in the sixth. He drove Campbell back quickly, but he wisely decided to conserve his energy. Campbell recovered but conceded the round to Garcia.

With 1:15 left in round 7, Garcia hit Campbell with a left hook to the liver that quickly doubled him over in pain. Campbell stayed on one knee as the referee started the count. He tried to regain his breath and started to make his way up at the count of 9, but it was too late, and he was counted out. Garcia won by round 7 KO.

Garcia is now the interim WBC lightweight champion. At 22 years old, Garcia still has more to learn, but he’s young and showed the potential to be a big star in the sport of boxing. He was too flatfooted, and he showed defensive liabilities, but his choice to go to Campbell’s body was intelligent.

WBC champion Devin Haney and Garcia have had words in the past on social media and through the press. They also each have shares of the WBC belts in the division. That would make an amazing fight. The winner would take the next step in trying to clear the picture at lightweight. Right now, that division belongs to Teofimo Lopez, but many have world-title talent.