Ryan Garcia Has Not Earned the “Face of Boxing” Title
In the aftermath of WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia’s sensational second-round stoppage of Conor Benn, some fans and members of the media have already started proclaiming the resident of Los Angeles, California (26-2, 20 KOs) as the new face of boxing. There is certainly an argument that Garcia possesses tremendous star power. His popularity, social-media following and ability to generate attention are undeniable. However, what some are missing is the distinction between being one of boxing’s most marketable stars and being the face of the sport.
Marketability does not always equate to being the most accomplished or skilled fighter. Accomplishments must also be considered. Garcia is coming off a dominant decision over Mario Barrios to win his first world title, followed by the Benn stoppage. Those are legitimate accomplishments, but Barrios was hardly viewed as one of boxing’s elite champions. Furthermore, Garcia still lacks the signature victories that typically define a fighter as the sport’s standard-bearer.
THE RESUME STILL MATTERS
Garcia hasn’t even been a world champion for a full calendar year. How can he be called the face of boxing while Canelo Alvarez remains active? And how does he leapfrog Gervonta “Tank” Davis, the man who stopped him in their 2023 mega-fight? Davis didn’t merely defeat Garcia; he did so decisively, stopping him with a body shot in the seventh round.
There is also the matter of Garcia’s recent career trajectory. Just two fights ago, he suffered a lopsided loss to Rolando Romero in a performance that raised serious questions about where his career was headed.
Garcia deserves enormous credit for rebounding. However, the face of boxing is a distinction that should be earned over time, not awarded after two impressive performances. Does Garcia have the potential to achieve that mantle? Yes. However, some are putting the cart before the horse and giving him something that he has yet to earn.
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