Javier Fortuna promised that when he stepped into the ring with Ryan Garcia, he’d show Garcia was overrated. Sadly for Fortuna, his predictive powers have been missing as Garcia dominated the combat from the opening seconds earlier than scoring a sixth-round knockout to the delight of the group inside Crypto.com Enviornment in Los Angeles.

Fortuna (37-4-1, 26 KO) by no means managed to get something going offensively within the combat, struggling to cope with Garcia’s size because the 23-year-old labored behind a stiff jab and lengthy straight proper palms.

The affected person long-range assault of Garcia (23-0, 19 KO) paid off in massive methods as Fortuna’s guard steadily got here up, exposing his ribs. Garcia took benefit of that within the fourth spherical, touchdown a crushing left hook to the physique that despatched Fortuna reeling earlier than he took a knee for the primary knockdown of the combat.

Issues did not get higher for Fortuna within the fifth spherical as Garcia’s left hand moved from the physique again to the pinnacle. A kind of left hooks caught Fortuna flush, sending Fortuna to the canvas for the second time within the combat, with the Dominican veteran wincing badly as he hit the deck.

The third and last knockdown of the combat got here simply moments into the sixth spherical as Garcia unloaded a three-punch mixture that completed with one other left hook and despatched Fortuna to the canvas as soon as once more. This time, Fortuna didn’t rise and Garcia was awarded the knockout on the 0:27 mark of the spherical.

Regardless of each fighters usually campaigning at light-weight, the combat was contested at tremendous light-weight on the request of the Fortuna camp. After the combat, Garcia made it clear that he was so comfy on the weight that he wouldn’t be returning to the light-weight division.

Even with what he claims is a everlasting transfer up in weight, Garcia stays targeted on an enormous combat with one in every of light-weight’s different younger stars in Gervonta “Tank” Davis for his subsequent outing.

“100 p.c, I felt means higher,” Garcia mentioned. “I am not going again to 135 for nothing however I’ll combat ‘Tank’ subsequent. If ‘Tank’ desires it at 140. Hey, I’ll document all of the negotiations so that you just guys do not make no headlines saying I am ducking. If he desires it, let’s get it. … That is going to present me the respect I deserve. I am by no means afraid. I’ve mentioned I’ve a spirit of competitors in me. You are going to see that come out once I combat tank and whoop his ass.”

Garcia and Davis have lengthy talked up a possible combat whereas sharing the light-weight division together with different younger stars like Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez, one other fighter who has lately moved to the 140-pound division.

Whereas Davis has ventured to the tremendous light-weight division to win the WBA’s secondary title with a dramatic win over Mario Barrios, it is unknown if he can be keen to return to the load given he’s solely five-foot-five. The combat additionally hinges on numerous promoters and networks having the ability to work out a deal that’s match for all concerned.

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CBS Sports activities will likely be with you all through the whole means on Saturday, so make sure you comply with together with the dwell outcomes and highlights beneath. 

Combat card, outcomes

• Ryan Garcia def. Javier Fortuna through sixth-round knockout
• Alexis Rocha def. Luis Alberto Veron through unanimous determination (100-90, 100-90, 99-91)
• Lamont Roach def. Angel Rodriguez through unanimous determination (116-112, 116-112, 117-111)
• David Jimenez def. Ricardo Sandoval through majority determination (114-112, 112-114, 113-113)

Garcia vs. Fortuna scorecard, dwell protection