Joe Goossen insists that in Ryan Garcia he is training a calibre of fighter he has very rarely seen.
The respected and experienced Goossen – who, among others, has previously trained Diego Corrales, Shane Mosley, Michael Nunn and Riddick Bowe – will in June be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
On Saturday at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena he will work Garcia’s corner for the match-up with Gervonta Davis that could prove both fighters’ defining fights, but with his leading active fighter also considered the underdog, he spoke of the faith he has that Garcia will prove one of the very, very best.
“I’m in awe of Ryan Garcia, to tell you the truth,” Goosen said.
“He’s got a mean streak a mile wide, in the best possible way. He’s highly confident, and aggressive. He’s got it all.
“Ryan looks great. He’s got an aura around him right now. He’s got the aura of a winner; of a star; of a guy on a mission. He worked so hard in this camp. I rate it up there in the top five of all camps I’ve ever been in.
“The concentration, the dedication, that he had for this camp was pretty hard to imagine. Especially the last couple of months – he’s been very focused. Losing the weight, in the right way; the sparring was great. He really destroyed a lot of sparring partners along the way. But he’s just got that something special about him, that’s hard to define. That ‘it’ quality. I can’t see him doing anything other than winning this fight, Saturday night.”
The 24-year-old Garcia is not only confronting, in Davis, 28, his most dangerous ever opponent, he is also negotiating a fight week that could prove the highest profile and most pressured he will ever know.
“It’s one thing to have two undefeated guys going at each other,” said Goosen. "It’s another to have two undefeated guys that each, individually, can sell out 20,000-seats. They’re both five-star quality, and got such amazing qualities, They’re both very intelligent; fast; hard-hitting, knockout punchers. It doesn’t happen too often. It’s the reason we have the expectation and interest in this fight. If I were not working the corner, I’d be very excited about this fight.
