2021 begins with a tremendous lightweight crossroads this afternoon (Sat. January 2, 2021) while the sensation on social media, Ryan Garcia, teamed up with Olympic gold medalist Luke Campbell for the interim WBC title.
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE coverage of this afternoon’s main event below. The DAZNbroadcast ((check it out here) starts at 15:00 ET, with Garcia and Campbell likely to step closer to 18:00 ET.
The 22-year-old Garcia, considered by some to be one of the top young talent in the sport, brutally knocked out his last two opponents in a combined 2:58. However, he takes a significant increase in competition against Campbell; the English’s only undivided losses were Jorge Linares, the multi-division champion, on whom he fell by a split decision in 2017, and the incomparable Vasiliy Lomachenko last year.
The winner will line up with veteran Javier Fortuna to tackle Devin Haney for the full WBC title. This should not be confused with the “franchise” title recently taken by Teofimo Lopez. Do not think too hard about it.
In the earlier action, the Alvarado brothers, Rene and Felix, will defend their respective titles against Roger Gutierrez and former minimum weight champion DeeJay Kriel. Former WBO super-middleweight champion woman Franchon Crews-Dezurn will also be in action, taking on travel agent Ashleigh Curry.
Ryan Garcia vs. Luke Campbell – Garcia defeats Campbell by KO at 1:58 of Round Seven
Rene Alvarado teen Roger Gutierrez – Gutierrez def. Alvarado with unanimous decision (113-112 x3)
Felix Alvarado vs. DeeJay Kriel – Alvarado def. Kriel by TKO at 1:39 of Round 10
WBC Intermediate Lightweight Championship: Ryan Garcia vs. Luke Campbell
Round one: Garcia pinches the body to start. Left hook shoots too short as he tries to walk Campbell down. Campbell also sends out jabs. Stuck in the corner, circle out and fire at the body. Well left bottom, met by a Garcia jab. Good exchange and Garcia lands a cross. Halfway through. Three-part goes high-low. Campbell launches a trio in return. Garcia backed up to the ropes, bouncing beats off the guard. Campbell digs another left to the body. Good trade in the center and Garcia sticks out his tongue. Another corpse shot by Campbell. 10-9 Campbell.
Round two: Campbell with another left to the body. He’s getting his forefoot on the outside, landing another. Garcia tried a 1-2-3. Jab exchange. Left hook lands for him and he opens on the ropes. Campbell becomes low-high with left hand. He steps in at the center ring and covers Garcia with an overhand. It’s quite a hard hit, but he’s up in no time. Top right left, stay patient. Override falls short. Garcia lands a hook on the body. Clinic. Nice check hook connected. 10-8, 20-17 Campbell.
Round three: Trading jabs early in the round. Garcia tries a 1-2, gets a right on the body. Campbell raises the body. Look overhand by Campbell, who absorbs a 1-2. High-low from Garcia. Halfway through. Garcia lands a cross, eats a finch. Body shot. Campbell goes low-high with his left hand. Garcia tries to open in the corner. 1-2 by Campbell. Jab, leaving shortly afterwards. Garcia goes on the ropes to the corpse. 10-9 Garcia, 29-27 Campbell.
Round four: counter strikes Garcia back. 1-2 from Campbell, clinch. Garcia combination falls short. Campbell warned of a low blow to the border. Garcia tried a three-piece, came back a two-piece. Another corpse shot by Campbell got a 2-3. Good 1-2 by Garcia. Campebll with a different body type, absorbs some rights. Halfway through. Campbell body shot. Clinic. Campbell goes down again. Counter links bo. Clinic. Two more body shots, then a few more. Garcia burns, through a left hand to the body. 10-9, 39-36 Campbell.
Round five: Heavy exchange in the center. Campbell with a tight stitch. Combination in close mostly blocked. 1-2 to the body. Garcia gets high-low with a 2-3. Campbell to the body, in return taking boundary line low blows. Campbell tries a combination. Halfway through. 2-3. Garcia with the right to the body. Good lead right, overhand left come back to him. Low-high 1-2 from Campbell. He tries a series left. Good combination by Garcia. A hard stick to the clock visibly hurts Campbell. 10-9 Garcia, 48-46 Campbell.
Round six: Garcia comes out sloppy. Long wave. Clinic. Campbell pot shots in the center after surviving. Straight right through Garcia. Combination lands for Campbell. Body jabs. Garcia combination blocked. Halfway through. 1-2 by Garcia, who takes a three-pointer in exchange. Campbell raises the body. Garcia check hook, trying to tear him to the ropes. Campbell exploded with a overhand left hand and power shot in return. Body jab. Garcia with a hook underneath. 10-9, 58-55 Campbell.
Round seven: Short trade in the center to start. Campbell raises the body. Jabs bo. Garcia lands a right cross through the guard. Both land straight. Campbell to the body. Good left hook from Garcia, advancing on the ropes. Campbell right cross and body shot. 1-2 halfway through. Body shots met by a malicious one from Garcia sending the Brit on his knees. He can’t beat the score and Garcia has the setback.
Final result: Garcia def. Campbell by KO
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