Ryan Garcia stops Javier Fortuna in showcase fight

15-1 favorite Ryan Garcia stopped the much smaller Javier Fortuna Saturday night at the Cyrpto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. The end came 27 seconds into round six. 

Garcia (23-0, 19 KOs) came out jabbing and firring lead right hands against southpaw Fortuna. Fortuna (37-4-1, 26 KOs) probed with his own jab – landing a sweeping right. Garcia scored with a three-punch combo in round two but ate a counter jab. Later in the stanza, Garcia cracked Fortuna with a straight shot to the jaw. Fortuna appeared momentarily buzzed.  

In round three, Garcia fired several right hands. He also worked downstairs. Fortuna was struggling to find his rhythm - missing a possible game-changing left. Look for a sharper opponent to catch Garcia with that blow in a future fight. 

Garcia landed a snappy right in round four. The punch backed up Fortuna. Garcia went to work – landing a right to the ribs. Fortuna looked uncomfortable. A left to the gut floored him for a six-count. 

Fortuna used his legs to stay away as Garcia stalked. Garcia worked up and down.  Garcia clipped Fortuna with a check left hook in round five. Fortuna fired a right. 

Garcia backed Fortuna into the ropes and let fly with a left hook.    Fortuna paused and went down. He got up quickly as Garcia sized him up. Fortuna scored with a glancing blow. Garcia worked his jab – looking for another power shot. 

In round six, Garcia looked to close the show. Seconds into the stanza, a left off the temple put Fortuna on all fours. As the referee counted, Fortuna spit out his mouthpiece. 

The one-sided fight was over.

“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.." 

The bout was a showcase fight for Garcia. He delivered, but some flaws are apparent. A fight with Tank Davis would reveal more. Garcia has fast hands and power.