One of boxing’s youngest stars returns this weekend on DAZN. The social media world, and boxing fans combined, will tune in to see if **Ryan Garcia** can return to winning ways. The junior welterweight contender (23-1, 19 KOs) faces Oscar Duarte (26-1-1, 21 KOs) in an intriguing match that features two fighters with vastly different styles. Are we going to see the return of ‘The Flash’ Garcia or the rise of the 27-year-old Duarte?
RYAN GARCIA LOOKS TO ANSWER THE BIG QUESTIONS ON SATURDAY NIGHT
Although he suffered his first career loss in April against Gervonta Davis, Garcia is still a needle mover in the boxing industry. Despite his loss to 'Tank' Davis in which he competed at a catchweight, his bout this weekend is at 140-pounds.
Check out THE SHOWDOWN: Ryan Garcia and Oscar Duarte LIVE on our YouTube channel NOW!
— Golden Boy (@GoldenBoyBoxing) November 23, 2023
👀: https://t.co/nJQhPsSfGG pic.twitter.com/yvcNFd1Nd5
Has the addition of Derrick James made a difference in Garcia’s preparations? His former trainer, Joe Goosen, mentioned that Garcia's lack of focus was an issue for the last camp. But James runs a no-nonsense camp in Dallas, TX, so this should be a more focused Garcia. There are questions Garcia has to answer within himself, and ones the boxing fans want answered through his performance. Is Garcia a true contender, or did he show who he was in April? These are questions that should be answered on Saturday night.
The game plan against Duarte shouldn’t be too complicated as Duarte’s style is tailor-made for Garcia. If the vintage Garcia shows up to the Toyota Center in Houston, TX, we see a lead left hook end this one or a step-back counter shot. Garcia needs to regain his confidence and he should be able to against Duarte.
OSCAR DUARTE IS LOOKING TO MAKE A NAME FOR HIMSELF IN HOUSTON
😳👑 𝐎𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫 𝐃𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞 has 𝐍𝐎 filter! Hear his thoughts on 𝐑𝐲𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐚 as we head into fight week for one of the 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 moments of his career. It's gonna be explosive on December 2nd 💥 #GarciaDuarte | LIVE on DAZN 12/2
— Golden Boy (@GoldenBoyBoxing) November 26, 2023
🎟️: https://t.co/Sp9m5wY1AI pic.twitter.com/VVsL0oBTXT
Duarte is a fighter who’s been campaigning in the lightweight division for most of his career. Duarte has fought at 140 pounds but hasn’t done so lately. He’s naturally a big guy who is built like a tank and fights with an aggressive style that forces fighters to submit to his pressure and ultimately get stopped. He’s mainly fought on club shows, but Golden Boy Promotions is ready to take off the training wheels and see what he has. It’s a hard fight for Duarte as Garcia’s speed is like no other.
For Duarte to win this fight, he must avoid rushing in without punching. Duarte needs to jab his way in, and force Garcia to work off the back foot and off balance. If Duarte can do this while mixing up his combinations to the body and head, he may be able to catch Garcia late in the fight with something big that could swing the fight his way. It’s a tough task, but Duarte has the tools to make it happen.
RYAN GARCIA VS. OSCAR DUARTE PREDICTION
Garcia will look to prove that the April fight was more about the weight stipulations than where he is as a fighter. Look for Garcia to be hesitant at first but then catch Duarte coming in with a left hook around the fifth round, ending this fight- Garcia by fifth-round TKO.
RYAN GARCIA VS. OSCAR DUARTE BETTING ODDS
Per Draft Kings, Ryan Garcia is the favorite at -425, and Oscar Duarte is the underdog at +300.
Ryan Garcia: TKO/KO -145; Decision +300
Draw: +1600
Oscar Duarte: TKO/KO +550; Decision +800
December 2nd...the 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 of 𝐑𝐲𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐚.#GarciaDuarte | LIVE on DAZN December 2nd pic.twitter.com/kLkn0RW6IF
— Golden Boy (@GoldenBoyBoxing) November 27, 2023
RYAN GARCIA VS. OSCAR DUARTE FIGHT DATE, START TIME
- Date: Saturday, December 2
- Time: 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT
- Main event ringwalks (approx): 11 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. PT
These timings could change due to the length of the undercard fights.
WHAT CHANNEL/STREAM IS RYAN GARCIA VS. OSCAR DUARTE?
- U.S.: DAZN
- UK: DAZN
RYAN GARCIA VS. OSCAR DUARTE FIGHT CARD
- Ryan Garcia vs. Oscar Duarte, 12 rounds, junior welterweights
- Ohara Davies vs. Ismael Barroso, 12 rounds, for vacant WBA interim junior welterweight title
- Floyd Schofield vs. Ricardo Torres, 10 rounds, lightweights
- Shane Mosley Jr. vs. Joshua Conley, 10 rounds, middleweights
- Darius Fulghum vs. Pachino Hill, 8 rounds, light heavyweights
- Asa Stevens vs. Dominque Griffin, 4 rounds, junior featherweights
- Gael Cabrera vs. Alejandro Dominguez, 4 rounds, bantamweights
- Sean Garcia vs. Joseph Johnson, 4 rounds, lightweights
