Knockout artist and social media sensation, Ryan Garcia, starts down the comeback trail TONIGHT (Sat., Dec. 2, 2023) when he faces suffocating slugger, Oscar Duarte, inside Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

The DAZN-streamed broadcast (watch it here), also sees Ismael Barroso — who suffered one of the most unjust stoppage losses in recent memory this past May — square off with Ohara Davies for a secondary WBA title. Shane Mosley Jr. also sees action, as does top prospect, Floyd Schofield.

It’s Garcia vs. Duarte that carries this card, though, so let’s take a closer look …

Ryan “Kingry” Garcia

Age: 25
Record: 23-1 (19 KO)
Last Five Fights: Gervonta Davis (KO-7 LOSS), Javier Fortuna (KO-6), Emmanuel Tagoe (UD), Luke Campbell (TKO-7), Francisco Fonseca (KO-1)
Significant Victories (other than those mentioned above): Jayson Velez

VS.

Oscar Duarte

Age: 27
Record: 26-1-1 (21 KO)
Last Five Fights: D’Angelo Keyes (RTD-7), Alex Martin (KO-8), Javier Franco (TKO-3), Mark Bernaldez (KO-8), Fernando Daniel Cancino (TKO-5)
Significant Victories (other than those mentioned above): Roger Gutierrez

THE FIGHT

Think of Duarte as a tripping hazard. If Garcia’s in a good place mentally and physically, he shouldn’t have too much trouble. Indeed, beyond the fact that he’s dragging Duarte up from Lightweight, “Kingry” is a fair bit faster, crisper with his punches, and heavier-handed. That left hook of his looks like the perfect weapon to punish Duarte’s straightforward entries, and even if Garcia doesn’t try to chase the knockout, Duarte will have all sorts of trouble chasing him down.

That’s a big “if,” though.

If Garcia’s not fully recovered, though, Duarte can put him through the wringer. Duarte is genuinely nasty in the pocket, and what his pressuring style lacks in craft it makes up for in determination. Garcia needs to catch him early and shut down any hint of momentum, as Duarte’s aggression can blow open any cracks in Garcia’s mind or body.

Between his lengthy absence following his comeback win over Luke Campbell and the way he shut down after tasting Gervonta Davis’ power (watch highlights), Garcia’s given us plenty of reasons to doubt his fortitude. That said, he has so many physical advantages over Duarte and such a devastating counter to Duarte’s gameplan that I’m leaning his way regardless.

In short, a check hook spells the end for Duarte before he can build a head of steam.

Prediction: Garcia def. Duarte via third round technical knockout

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