Shakur Stevenson seemed so impressed with 27-year-old Ryan Garcia’s performance over Mario Barrios, 30, that his first reaction on the DAZN broadcast desk was to ask if VADA was involved in the drug-testing.
Garcia needed only four punches to knock Barrios to the ground in the opening round and then dominated him with a disciplined adherence to a game-plan that saw him evolve into a more well-rounded fighter, landing straight rights and hooks just as frequently as his signature left.
Victory confirmed Garcia as the WBC welterweight boxing world champion, and he called immediately for a title defense against Stevenson, who watched the fight ringside inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
“I thought Ryan did his thing tonight,” Stevenson, 28, said.
A criticism of Garcia in recent years was how markedly different he looked in the thrashing he gave Devin Haney, which was retrospectively turned to a No Contest after he tested positive for Ostarine, when compared to the out-of-sorts display he posted against Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero in the very next fight.
“I seen him with Rolly and he didn’t look like that. My question is: Was VADA involved in the fight?”
DAZN presenter Ade Oladipo said, “Yes,” that the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association organization were involved in the testing protocol for the bout.
“That’s good to hear,” he said, adding that it’s a stipulation of his if he is to ever share the ring with Garcia. “If he’s fighting me next, I’m all for the challenge, but VADA will be involved.”
Stevenson finished by remarking that, though there is a weight class between himself as a super lightweight world title holder, and Garcia, now a king at 147 pounds, they can “meet in the middle” for a catchweight fight.
“Two big stars. Big fight. We don’t need a belt for the fight.”
Garcia called immediately for a Stevenson fight when given the chance on the mic in the middle of the ring, even though he’d also likely have his pick from a Romero rematch, Devin Haney, or Conor Benn. Maybe even a Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis do-over.
“Shakur Stevenson,” he said. “Let’s go.”
For former five-weight world boxing champion and future Hall-of-Famer, Terence Crawford, who was also ringside for Garcia’s evisceration of Barrios, ‘Bud’s said there’d be only one winner if he really did fight his protege Stevenson. “I think he’d wipe the floor with him.” he said.
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