In a catchweight bout at 143-pounds, Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) bounced back in force with an eight round knockout of a determined Oscar Duarte (26-2-1, 21 KOs).
In the first, the taller Garcia was jabbing to keep Duarte at bay and to set up other punches. He would Duarte when the puncher would charge in with punches. Garcia also stayed on the move at all times. The second round saw Garcia continue the same trend. He got tagged with a hard left but took it very well. Duarte was also looking to get to the body, with Garcia doing his best to stay away from those shots.
Duarte started the third with a right hand over Garcia’s jab. Duarte was also tagging the body to slow Garcia down. Garcia was moving and picking his spots with hard hooks. In the fourth, Duarte was pressing hard and was making things rough for Garcia. The fifth saw a lot of trading at close range. Both fighters were having success. Duarte was connecting often to the body of Garcia, who for some reason kept turning to a weird angle.
Garcia landed two bombs early in the sixth and Duarte was able to take them. Duarte was going to the body often and hitting Garcia when he turned to his side. A lot of back and forth success for both. In the seventh, Garcia went back on the move and was throw pot shots when Duarte walked in. Garcia was moving a lot during the round.
The eight had Garcia continue to move around the ring a lot without throwing. Duarte was following around and also not moving, but then out of nowhere Garcia landed a heavy left hand that rocked the legs of Duarte. Garcia followed up with a few more shots to send Duarte down. Duarte got up on unsteady legs and the fight was waved off.
