Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California - In a bout taking place at junior welterweight, Ryan Garcia (23-0, 19 KOs) dropped former world champion Javier Fortuna (37-4-1, 26 KOs) three times for a knockout in the sixth round.
After controlling the first three round, Garcia dropped Fortuna for the first time in the fourth with a well-timed body shot.
In the fifth, Garcia dropped Fortuna for a second time with a counter left hand to the head. He finished off Fortuna in the sixth, with a combination that put him down for the full count.
Garcia feels strongly that he made a statement after going the full distance back in April, in his decision win over Emmauel Tagoe.
“I want to thank God first and foremost,” said Garcia. “I know that I performed well for myself. I was crisp, sharp and I stayed in my truth. I didn’t do anything crazy. I know how good of a fighter I am, I just had to put it all together, just like tonight. Fortuna hit hard, he has a hard fist. Like I said when I fight stronger opponents, I box better.
"I caught him with a body shot. He thought I was going for the head but I switched it on him. I felt he was going to throw the Luke Campbell shot [the shot that dropped Ryan against Campbell]. I feel like everyone is going to try to hit me with that shot. I hit hard so it doesn’t take much to hurt someone.
“It felt like [I made] a statement to come back to the timeline I was at. Mental health is a time to reflect on yourself and get better for the future. That’s not weakness, that’s strength! That’s courage! You saw me today when I stepped in the ring. That’s nothing but courage and skill.”