Ryan Garcia Reveals Rib Injury Prevented Him from Recovering in Davis Fight
Showtime Boxing’s All Access Epilogue episode recapping the victory by multi-divisional champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis (29-0, 27KO) over junior lightweight “King” Ryan Garcia (23-1, 19KO) revealed Garcia was possibly injured going into the fight.
Garcia was hit with a debilitating body shot that prevented him from continuing in the seventh round. The Californian came under heavy criticism, as several fans and enthusiasts believed he could have continued. However, Garcia and Goossen’s exchange after the fight should shed some light on the topic.
GARCIA AND GOOSSEN’S POST-FIGHT EXCHANGE
Showtime Sports captured the video clip of the exchange between Garcia and trainer Joe Goossen that explains it all.
Goossen: “Did it hit that rib part at all, Ryan?”
Garcia: “Yeah.”
Goossen: “I knew it.”
Garcia: “I didn’t want to continue because of my rib, but, It’s okay. I don’t want to make excuses.”
Goossen: “Listen, let me just tell you something – that type of shot is a hard one. You’d rather get hit on the chin.”
Goossen ended the exchange by reminding his fighter that he did get hit on the chin in the second round and got up. In a recent interview, Tank’s trainer, coach Calvin Ford, echoed the same sentiments in response to those labeling Garcia a quitter.
During the build-up to the fight, Davis revealed knowledge that Garcia suffered an injury in sparring while in camp. The leak, and rib injury, allegedly came via lightweight prospect Tsendbaatar Erdenebat. The two-time Olympian from Mongolia took to social media to apologize to King Ryan for costing him the victory.
Regardless of injury, historically, several fighters have gone down from body shots. Those kinds of punches take the life out of you, and fans should be careful when calling someone a quitter.
