LIGHTWEIGHT sensation Ryan Garcia kept his unbeaten streak intact with a dominant display over Emmanuel Tagoe. The Flash, 23, hadn’t fought since January 2021 when he took the vacant WBC interim lightweight title by beating Luke Campbell.
But Garcia left the judges with no choice other than to present him with the victory having left his Ghanaian opponent battered and bruised by round 12.
Results: Ryan Garcia bt Emmanuel Tagoe, Shane Mosley Jr bt Gabriel Rosado, Marlen Esparza bt Naoko Fujioka, Azat Hovhannisyan bt Dagoberto Aguero.
Main card US start time: 9pm EST/6pm PST
Main card UK start time: 2am BST
TV/Live stream: DAZN
Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
Garcia wins comeback bout
Ryan Garcia marked his return to the boxing ring with a near-shutout on the cards against Emmanuel Tagoe.
The American lightweight sensation last fought in January 2021, knocking out Britain’s Luke Campbell in seven rounds.
But a battle with his mental health and injuries saw him sidelined for 15 months until he finally marked his comeback.
And he did so against stubborn Ghanian Tagoe, who looked to survive the fight over the 12 round distance.
But it saw Garcia, who scored a knockdown in round two, emerge victorious unanimously on the cards.
He said: “I got nothing but respect for Tagoe, he fought a hard fight.
“I think if I would have started pressing him harder in the beginning of the fight, I would’ve got him out of there.
“But what can I say? I had to track him down, it was a new experience cutting the ring off with a guy who was in a fight to survive.”
Garcia, 23, made a sharp start to the fight after a right hand bundled Tagoe, 33, to the floor.
But he failed to follow it up and force a stoppage in a sign of things to come later on.
Garcia would go on to control the fight throughout the rest of the rounds, throwing heavy left hooks and right hands.
But Tagoe was keen to grab, hold and move as he evaded engaging in a firefight.
It saw Garcia repeatedly back up Tagoe but fail to land a decisive blow despite threatening a few times.
As the fight went to the cards, it saw the lightweight contender win wide on and secure his first win with new trainer Joe Goosen.
Veteran Goosen was brought in to replace Canelo Alvarez’s esteemed coach Eddy Reynoso.
Garcia said: “It felt great man, I was super comfortable with him in the ring.
“I love Joe, we have a great relationship and I got nothing but love for him. He’s just the best guy.”
Ger joking
Ryan Garcia refuses to challenge long-time rival Gervonta Davis in the ring.
“In the past, I’m always with the callouts but I’ve grown, I’ve matured Im going to let my team handle it.
“I’m going to let all my coaches – and when it’s on, it’s on. As of right now, I’m going to trust my team going forward.”
Garcia vs Tagoe
This was Garcia’s first fight with his new coach Joe Goosen, who replaced Eddy Reynoso, Canelo Alvarez’s trainer.
Garcia says: “It felt great man, I was super comfortable with him in the ring. I love Joe, we have a great relationship and I got nothing but love for him.
“He’s just the best guy.”
Garcia reacts
Garcia says: “I got nothing but respect for Tagoe, he fought a hard fight.
“I think if I would have started pressing him harder in the beginning of the fight, I would’ve got him out of there.
“But what can I say? I had to track him down, it was a new experience cutting the ring off with a guy who was in a fight to survive.”
Garcia vs Tagoe
Ryan Garcia is in the ring already celebrating with his daughter.
But the judges officially score the bout: 119-108 (x2), 118-109 to your winner by unanimous decision, Ryan Garcia.
The American prospect can now look towards bigger and better things.
Garcia vs Tagoe
Round 12 – Lovely little left hook clips Tagoe, it’s been a honey shot of Garcia’s all fight.
Garcia has Tagoe pinned into the corner and is still looking for the KO shot.
We go into the judges scorecards after 12 fairly one-sided rounds.
Garcia vs Tagoe
Round 11 – All one-way traffic as Garcia walks Tagoe down, looking to land a big right hand or left hook.
The Ghanian is staying in there but has been second best all fight.
We head into the 12th and final round with Ryan Garcia well ahead.
Garcia vs Tagoe
Round 10 – Tagoe is backed up against the ropes but he lands some shots over the top.
Big right hand stuns Tagoe! He holds on as Garcia looks to pile on the pressure.
Big round for Garcia, who almost forced through his second knockdown of the fight.
Garcia vs Tagoe
Round 9 – Right hand drives right through Tagoe’s guard but the Ghanian walks forward.
Couple big shots land for Garcia but he lunges in and smothers his work.
Right hand looks to have slightly wobbled Tagoe on the bell.
Garcia vs Tagoe
Round 8 – Garcia is winging in big right hands over the top but Tagoe is dipping underneath.
Good combination lands for Garcia, who is desperately coming forward trying to land a big right hand.
Tagoe is defending well but not coming back with eye catching work of his own.
Garcia vs Tagoe
Round 7 – Couple left hooks over the top land for Tagoe.
But Garcia comes back with a double left hand of his own in response.
Garcia lets his hands go towards the end of the round but Tagoe covers up well in defence.
Garcia vs Tagoe
Round 6 – Garcia walks Tagoe down and lands a combination to head and body.
Couple chopping right hands for Garcia as Tagoe tries to duck and dodge.
The American is letting his power punches go more as we head into the second half.
Garcia vs Tagoe
Round 5 – Garcia pushes Tageo back as the aggressor.
Tagoe lands a right hand but it provides a response from Garcia.
Another round banked for Garcia, who was active with his jab and to the body.
TOTT
Here is how the two headliners compare ahead of the main event.
Ring walks coming up NEXT.
No average Joe
Ryan Garcia confirmed he is out of his fog by enjoying a joke about trainer Joe Goosen’s favourite fashion faux pas
Garcia laughed: “Yeah it was definitely his Canadian tuxedo which really sealed the job for me!
“No, really I have a connection with Joe from the amateurs when I was 17 and he was training me a little bit.
“Joe is an old school guy and I feel like I am an old school soul when it comes to the game. We just have a good chemistry and I think that was why I picked him.
“Joe and AJ probably would have been a great fit. Joe can bring a lot out of you, a lot of grit. He is one of those old school trainers, like Cus D’Amato, just that rough type of person and for me I love that.”
Belting idea
Ryan Garcia’s hopes of a lightweight world title shot are on the backburner after undisputed champ George Kambosos accepted a June 5 clash with his King Ry’s famous 2-2 amateur rival Devin Haney.
That clash has a rematch clause and former four-belt king Vasiliy Lomachenko is first inline for a crack at his old crowns, once the Ukraine legend finishes bravely fighting Russian invaders in his besieged home.
But instead of getting down about the likely delay, Garcia is lining up a thriller with fellow KO artist Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis.
He said: “I am happy for the likes of Devin Haney and Kambosos, I am happy that they are getting it on, may the best man win.
“But I am still a major player if they want to make a major fight down the line.
“I think Tank is the most realistic super-fight out there for me because we both have connections to (US fight maker) Al Haymon and we can make something happen for sure.
“We are big stars and we are the most exciting fighters on paper.
“I don’t look too far ahead because every time I do it doesn’t happen. So now I just shut up and just destroy whoever it is in the ring with me.”
Credit: Zuma Press
Undercard action
Shane Mosley Jr BEATS Gabe Rosado in the chief support.
He earns a majority decision over Rosado over 12 rounds, to push himself onto world title contention.
Up next, Ryan Garcia makes his anticipated return.
No Shane in that
Shane Mosley has had years of challengers queuing up to try and beat the son of a legend – but Gabe Rosado is not one of them.
Rosado said: “I ain’t fighting his dad, I’m fighting his son.
“For me, yeah they share the same name, but it’s not the same to me.
“His father is a Hall of Famer, one of the greats of the game who I respect.
“And it’s funny as when I was first offered the Mosley Jr fight, there was a part of me which was like, ‘Damn man, I don’t want to fight his son’.
“But at the end of the day it’s just business, it’s not personal. It is what it is. We’re both grown men and we’re going to get it on, on the night.”
Credit: Zuma Press
Creed it & weep
Creed star Gabriel Rosado has a “real-life Rocky story” fit for Hollywood – and is eyeing a world title to cap off his celebrated career.
The American in 2015 starred in Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky spin-off movie and featured as one of Michael B Jordan’s on-screen adversaries.
The blockbuster movie received widespread acclaim but only years after its release does Rosado sit back and reflect on the experience.
He told SunSport: “It was great, being from Philadelphia, Rocky is a Philadelphia story so to us it’s even more special.
“I grew up watching the movie so when I got to be a part of it, it was just kind of like surreal.
“But I think I appreciate it a little more now then I did at the time. At the time it was like, ‘This is cool’.
“But as time goes by it’s like, ‘Yo, I really was a part of history, this is big’. So I appreciate it.”
Gift of the Gabe
Gabriel Rosado made his professional debut in 2006 and has been through it all in the ring.
From challenging for world titles, sharing the ring with modern-day legends and even being robbed on the cards, he has seen and done it.
It means if anyones career has been worthy of the big screen, it is probably Rosado’s.
He said: “For sure, it’s like the real-life Rocky story, but we’re still pushing.
“I still feel great, going back to 68’ and I really feel like we’re going to make a push in the division.”
Rosado, who returns to the ring at super-middleweight against Shane Mosley Jr, warned he is not done yet, with a world title still in his sights.
He added: “That’s the end goal. That’s what keeps me going and like I said, I’ve had a long career, 16-years going on 17.
“The goal for me is to become a world champion. I was close in the last fight, it was close, competitive, dropped down to 160 which was tough.
“I did it because in order to do great things you have to sacrifice.”
Ryan’s reveal
Before even landing a world title, Garcia had incredible fame – in the shape of almost 8million Instagram followers – that added pressure.
“I think a lot of things were in play with what was happening to me,” he said. “I was struggling with anxiety and depression.
“I don’t know if all that stuff plays a part, the pressure of being a boxer/influencer, but all I know is I noticed a problem and I fixed it.
“It started with counselling. I went to see a therapist, I took the professional approach to it, making sure I got real professional help and then from there I just started understanding what anxiety really is – and depression too.
“I just started talking to people and talking to people really helped me. It helped me understand what I was going through and understand that there’s a way out.
“Hope does a lot for you and it helps you see a light at the end of the tunnel. I slowly but surely got myself out of the hole I was in.”
Credit: Getty
Garcia’s fightback
Ryan Garcia believes his fight against anxiety and depression could have ended in a “trainwreck” if he had not seeked help.
America’s 21-0 social media sensation will end a 15-month hiatus on Saturday against Emmanuel Tagoe.
He took the break to save his life when his battle against mental health problems started to look like the first fight he couldn’t win.
Since he climbed off the canvas to stop Luke Campbell in January 2021, Garcia has had professional help and changed from the Eddy Reynoso gym – which he shared with pound-for-pound king Canelo Alvarez – and teamed up with respected veteran Joe Goossen.
And he confirms that unless he had taken drastic measures to break the vicious circle he was facing, the next stop was a terrifying first loss.
“I couldn’t just keep on forcing myself to just get in the ring, get in the ring if I didn’t feel mentally right outside of the ring,” he said in a brave and emotional interview.
“I took that time and I feel amazing now, I really feel it helped me stop a trainwreck and that’s what’s important.
“If you’re not there mentally bad things can happen in that ring.”
Credit: Rex
Garcia vs Tagoe weigh-in
Both Ryan Garcia and Emmanuel Tagoe looked in tremendous shape on the scales yesterday.
Ryan Garcia – 138.8lbs
Emmanuel Tagoe – 138.2lbs
Credit: Getty Images – Getty
What have both fighters said?
Ryan Garcia: “I was struggling with anxiety and depression.
“I don’t know if all that stuff plays a part – the pressure of being a boxer-influencer or whatnot – but all I know is I noticed a problem and I fixed it.
“I made sure I was ok and I made the right decision for sure.
“Now I can’t wait to be back in the ring on 9 April.”
Emmanuel Tagoe: [My fans] know me well. They know what I can do.
“I might need a translator to talk the talk. But in the ring Ryan, I can beat you.”
Credit: Getty Images – Getty
How to watch Garcia vs Tagoe
You can catch all of the evening’s action live on DAZN.
Coverage of the show will start at 8pm ET and 2am BST in the UK.
A monthly subscription to the streaming service in the US costs $19.99, or you can grab an annual package for $99.99.
In Canada, a DAZN monthly subscription is $20, while an annual subscription is $150.
And viewers in the UK can subscribe from £7.99/month.
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