Ryan Garcia of Los Angeles meets Campbell in an interim WBC lightweight title fight.
(AP Photo/Matt Dunham)DALLAS – Ryan Garcia says he had never been knocked down before when an early blow sent the rising star to the canvas in his biggest test yet against Luke Campbell.
The 22-year-old Californian had an impressive response, staggering Campbell with a body blow to win a WBC lightweight title fight on a seventh-round knockout Saturday night.
“He’s not used to going forward, so I just knew I had to cover up.”Late in the fifth round, Garcia sent Campbell staggering to the ropes just and confronted the 33-year-old after the bell had rung.
“He never fights coming forward, so I knew he would back up throughout the fight," Garcia said.