Bang.
With two well-placed punches that floored his opponent, Ryan “The Flash” Garcia (14-0, 13 KOs) retained his Junior NABF Super Featherweight title over Fernando Vargas (33-16-3, 24 KOs) in the main event of ESPN’s telecast at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.
Garcia hit Vargas with a straight right hand followed by a left hook which dropped the Tijuana, Mexico native in the first round.
“I can not describe the feeling,” said Garcia. “I saw the shot and I took it. It was my first 10-round fight and the dude has experience, so I expected some rugged fighting.”
The sold out crowd cheered as the undefeated Garcia entered the ring but the 19-year-old admitted to having some jitters.
“I can box but I was a little nervous with this being my first main event,” said Garcia. “Once I landed the first jab, I was like, ok let me set him up.”
The combination of speed and power Garcia displayed puts him on track for super stardom as the young champion at Golden Boy Promotions.
Garcia said the win secures him a spot on the Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin undercard, May 5, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
“It means everything,” said Garcia of being on the undercard. “I believe in myself 100 percent.”
Ryan Garcia scores the knockout over Fernando Vargas in Round 1. #Boxing #RBRBoxing pic.twitter.com/vTeoESBNKN
— Round By Round Boxing (@RBRBoxing) March 23, 2018
Header photo by Hogan Photos/Golden Boy Promotions
