Pretty-boy pugilist, Ryan Garcia, faces one of the stiffest tests of his career this evening (July 16, 2022) when he takes on former champion, Javier “El Abejon” Fortuna, inside Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE coverage of tonight’s main card below, including round-by-round coverage of the main event. The DAZN broadcast will kickoff at 8 p.m. ET, with Garcia and Fortuna likely to make the walk closer to 11 p.m. ET.
This marks Garcia’s second appearance since a 15-month layoff, and he’ll be looking to erase the memory of April’s underwhelming decision win over Emmanuel Tagoe. Fortuna figures to make him work for it, at least, as he gave JoJo Diaz a decent fight in 2021.
The rest of the main card includes rising Welterweight, Alexis Rocha, versus sacrificial lamb, Luis Veron, as well as a pair of WBA eliminators pitting Lamont Roach Jr. and Ricardo Sandoval against Angel Rodriguez and David Jimenez, respectively.
Garcia Vs. Fortuna Quick Results:
Ryan Garcia vs. Javier Fortuna — Garcia def. Fortuna by KO at 0:27 of Round Six
Alexis Rocha vs. Luis Veron — Rocha def. Veron by unanimous decision (100-90 x2, 99-91)
Lamont Roach Jr vs. Angel Rodriguez — Roach def. Rodriguez by unanimous decision (116-112 x2, 117-111)
Ricardo Sandoval vs. David Jimenez — Jimenez def. Sandoval by majority decision (114-112 x2, 113-113)
Garcia Vs. Fortuna Round-By-Round Updates:
140 lbs.: Ryan Garcia vs. Javier Fortuna
Round one: Trading jabs to start. Garcia looking for left hooks. Sharp straight right. Body shot. Garcia still mixing up the jab and hook. Fortuna having issues with the range, eats a hard right cross and comes back with a combo. He punches into the clinch halfway through. Lead rights by Garcia. Fortuna tries to swarm, clinch. Garcia continuing to potshot with the straight right. Left hook catches Fortuna circling. Fortuna comes back with an overhand left. 10-9 Garcia.
Round two: Fortuna lands a left downstairs. Jab up top. Glancing left hook from Garcia. Still looking to potshot with straights. They trade lefts in the center, then Garcia rattles Fortuna with a straight right that prompts a clinch halfway through. Sharp left hook from Garcia, then a right to the body. 1-2-3 lands clean, clinch. Fortuna falls short with an overhand left. 10-9. 20-18 Garcia.
Round three: More Garcia straight rights. Fortuna lands a left downstairs. Garcia tries a 2-3 on the ropes, lands jabs. Straight rights. Fortuna lingering on the ropes halfway through. Garcia fires a combo, gets clinched. Left hook. Straight right through the guard. Counter left falls short for Fortuna, decent right hook in combination. 10-9, 30-27 Garcia.
Round four: Garcia still sitting out of Fortuna’s range and firing off straight rights. Fortuna tries an overhand left. Solid double right from Garcia, tries to follow up with a combo. Garcia pressing the advantage with combos. Nasty left hook to the body sends Fortuna to a knee. He beats the count, spitting out his mouthpiece to buy more time. Garcia stalking forward. Fortuna trying to attack with his hands down. Solid body shot from Garcia on the ropes. Right hand behind it, hard left hook upstairs. Combinations landing. 10-8, 40-35 Garcia.
Round five: Early counters from Garcia. Left hook around the guard, then one to the body. Right hook by Fortuna. Sharp straight rights by Garcia. Brutal 2-3 knocks Fortuna down once again on a slightly delayed reaction. Again he beats the count. Garcia stalking, looking to open up on the ropes. There’s a nice right hook from Fortuna. Garcia staying patient, Fortuna staying mobile. 10-8, 50-43 Garcia.
Round six: Fortuna comes out aggressive, but gets dropped a third time via left hook. He doesn’t want anymore and takes the count.
Final result: Garcia def. Fortuna by KO
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