Ryan Garcia Says Titles Donβt Matter: βI Wear This Belt Because It Looks Goodβ
Interim WBC lightweight champion Ryan Garcia says titles do matter out and claims he only wears the belt he won against Luke Campbell earlier this month βbecause it looks goodβ.
Garcia survived a heavy early knockdown before ultimately stopping the Olympic gold medallist inside seven rounds on January 3. The win makes βKingβ the mandatory challenger for WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney.
Somewhat surprisingly, Garcia is not interested in fighting Haney next for the chance to become a real-world champion. Heβs not really interested in facing WBA, WBO, IBF and WBC Franchise champion Teofimo Lopez.
Garcia is instead eyeing up an exhibition bout against boxing legend Manny Pacquaio. He has previously talked up a fight with Gervonta Davis.
βIβm trying to figure out my next move and where to place this king piece [with the interim WBC interim lightweight title],β Garcia told ESPNβs Stephen A. Smith.
The 22-year-old notes Lopez is a talented boxer but Garcia is not necessarily impressed by the collection of belts Teofimo holds.
βIβm not naive to say that he doesnβt matter. Of course, Teofimo matters,β Garcia said. βWhat doesnβt matter is belts. I wear this belt because it looks good. Doesnβt it look good? It does make me look good. The truth is, thereβs too many belts, there are too many champions. You donβt know who the true champion is. If Teofimo wants to hold that crown the way he wants to hold it, thatβs fine.β
βI know the truth. The truth is, youβre not the champ until you beat the toughest people in the division,β Garcia added. βYou give what the people want. Iβm trying to be the peopleβs champ. Iβm taking on the best fighters as soon as possible because thatβs what I stand for. And Iβm always going to stand for that. If people want to say, βOh, he got this and that.β Thatβs fine, the truth always comes out. The world will see who the better fighter is the more we fight.β (Transcribed by Boxing Scene)
Do you agree with Ryan Garcia? Do belts no longer hold the value they once did?