WBC names Ryan García’s next opponent, orders purse bid on 16th April

For months, there were rumours and speculations on who will be the next opponent of Ryan García (21-0, 18 KOs).

From calling out Gervonta Davis to wanting a “dream” face off against Manny Pacquiao, the WBC interim champion wanted to pursue several different names.

Ryan García to face Javier Fortuna as his next fight

Now, the Mexico City-based sanctioning body themselves have picked Ryan García’s upcoming opposition to be former WBA (Regular) super featherweight titleholder Javier Fortuna, and orders the purse bid to be held on 16th April.

”After careful consideration and communication with all parties involved, the WBC confirmed the course of action for the lightweight division,” WBC announced via an official statement Thursday, “Ryan Garcia won the interim title and the mandatory position. Javier Fortuna signed a contract to face Jorge Linares. Covid prevented this fight from happening. Fortuna earned a mandatory position.”

”The WBC is hereby ordering Ryan Garcia versus Javier Fortuna for the WBC interim lightweight championship and the mandatory position within the organization,” the statement from WBC further added. (H/T Boxing Scene)

Interestingly, a title defense against Javier Fortuna was not something that was mandatory for Ryan García in the first place. After winning the vacant interim belt against Luke Campbell on 2nd January this year, KingRy would earn himself a mandatory fight against WBC’s world champion at 135- Devin Haney, after clearing up a fight in April.

However, instead of pursuing after Haney and the lightweight championship, García spoke up about different fights, from throwing a 2’round challenge at “Tank” Davis to striving for a dream exhibition bout against eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao. However, now with WBC intervening to set up García’s next bout, the undefeated 22-year-old who is now almost three months without a fight.

ALSO READ: With no progress on Manny Pacquiao fight, Ryan García shifts focus back on Gervonta Davis

Nicknamed “El Abejón”, Javier Fortuna (36-2-1, 25 KOs) made his professional boxing debut in March 2011, winning the vacant WBC Youth Intercontinental featherweight title. In May 2015, Fortuna was crowned the WBA (Regular) Super Featherweight champion after defeating Bryan Vázquez via unanimous decision at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Fortuna retained his belt in September 2015 against Carlos Velásquez via a 10 round TKO in Las Vegas, making his first title defense. However, he lost the title in June the following year, after Jason Sosa became the new Super Featherweight titleholder after knocking out Fortuna in the 11th round in Beijing, which marked the latter’s first professional career defeat.

Fortuna was last seen in action in November last year when he clinched a 6 round knockout victory against Antonio Lozada Jr at the Staples Center.