Ryan Garcia returned to the ring, and it was a success. Garcia stopped Oscar Duarte in the eighth round at the Toyota Center in Houston on Saturday night.
The fight was contested at a catch-weight of 143 pounds.
Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) stunned Duarte (26-2-1, 21 KOs) with a left hook in the eighth and would drop Duarte, who did get up at 10 seconds, but the referee waived it off, and Garcia got a much-needed win.
“King Ry” was not always at his best in this fight under his new trainer, Derrick James, and Duarte had his moments, especially in Rounds five and six, where he landed 33 power shots; Garcia’s chin stood up to those big shots, and he finally put Duarte away in the eighth.
Photos: Golden Boy Promotions
After the win, Garcia, who openly feuded with Golden Boy Promotions heads Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins during fight week, called out WBA 140-pound champion Rollie Romero.
“I want to become a world champion. I want Rollies next,” Garcia said. “Everyone kept asking me why Oscar Duarte – he was so tough! I thought I would get him out in the second or third, but he was like a rock. I felt like me and Derrick have a lot to build on after this fight.”
This was a nice comeback win for Garcia following his first career loss to Gervonta Davis last April. Many fighters would want to get in the ring with Garcia because of his popularity and vulnerability, so he should have no issues getting a big fight down the line.
Schofield Shines:
In a spectacular co-main event, it only took WBA Lightweight International Champion Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield (16-0, 12 KOs) 1:51 in the first round to successfully defend his title against Tijuana, Mexico’s Ricardo “Explosivo” Torres (17-8-3, 12 KOs) in a fight presented in association with Davies Entertainment. Scheduled for 10-rounds, Austin’s Schofield sent Torres to the mat three times in a row, the referee stopping the fight after the third time he was knocked down.
Mosley Mows Down Conley:
Shane Mosley Jr. (21-5, 12 KOs) became the new WBA Continental Americas Middleweight Titleholder with a TKO victory against San Bernardino’s Joshua Conley (17-6-1, 11 KOs) in a fight scheduled for 10-rounds. Mosley Jr. took his time, ultimately forcing Conley to retire in his corner at the beginning of the seventh round.
