(Credit: Tom Hogan-Hoganphotos/Golden Boy)

Who Will Ryan Garcia Face In Boxing’s Lightweight Division Tournament?

By FIGHTSPORTS Jul 7, 2020 Last updated Jul 8, 2020

At 21, Ryan Garcia has a chance to secure his destiny as one of the top young fighters in boxing. He has two paths to choose from to get there. Ultimately, “Option A” was the decision he chose.

According to The Athletic’s Lance Pugmire, Garcia (20-0) will accept the World Boxing Council’s order for him to compete for the WBC Lightweight Title. While negotiations are still at play, Garcia is now scheduled to face Luke Campbell sometime this year. The winner of that fight would face off against WBC Lightweight Champion Devin Haney.

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman took to social media to make the announcement:

“@GoldenBoyBoxing has confirmed @KingRyanG participation in the fight vs @luke11campbell! Great tournament in the lightweight division.”

.@GoldenBoyBoxing has confirmed @KingRyanG participation in the fight vs @luke11campbell ! Great tournament in the lightweight division @WBCBoxing pic.twitter.com/IkKAsfybrq

— Mauricio Sulaiman (@wbcmoro) July 6, 2020

The Campbell fight was one of two orders brought to Garcia this past week. The WBO offered a fight against Emmanuel Tagoe, with the winner facing the WBO Lightweight Champion, who at the moment is Vasiliy Lomachenko. He is currently scheduled to face off against IBF Lightweight Champion Teofimo Lopez in September.

Garcia has won seven fights since 2018. He won the WBO-NABO and WBC Silver Lightweight Titles against Romero Duno in November via TKO, his third win in a row via knockout. “KingRy” won his last bout in February, hitting Francisco Fonseca with a devastating knockout punch. He was supposed to fight on July 4 for Golden Boy’s return but called out Golden Boy and DAZN for offering him $200,000 to compete. Garcia requested $500,000, stating he deserves more. Now, a title opportunity is in his future.

The 32-year-old Campbell has fought for lightweight gold twice; he lost to Jorge Linares in 2017 for the WBA Lightweight TItle and lost to Lomachenko this past August for the WBA, WBO, and WBC Lightweight TItles. Before the Lomachenko loss, Campbell was on a three-fight win streak. He is looking to prove that he is a challenge for Garcia, and his social media following can’t help him in the fight.

Both Garcia and Campbell have deals with DAZN, as Garcia is with Golden Boy while Campbell is with Matchroom Boxing. Haney is a Matchroom product, while Lomachenko works under the Top Rank banner.