Campbell and Garcia reach an agreement
The WBC confirmed on August 12 that the respective camps have agreed to the material terms of the Luke Campbell vs. Ryan Garcia bout for the WBC Interim Lightweight World Championship.
During a Zoom Video Conference, Eddie Hearn, of Matchroom Boxing, on behalf of Luke Campbell, and Eric Gomez, of Golden Boy Promotions, on behalf of Ryan Garcia, confirmed that they have reached an agreement. They requested to the WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán a 7-day extension in order to work out last minute details and prepare and sign the corresponding contracts.
Hearn expressed both promoters’ wish to stage this great fight under the best conditions possible, in light of the current global crisis occasioned by the Covid-19 world pandemic. Mauricio confirmed that the WBC will categorically support the promoters’ efforts and accommodate their need to stage fights for the worldwide fans in the safest and most favorable conditions possible. Mauricio also offered the WBC’s absolute support, understanding and flexibility to make sure all the details of that much-anticipated bout are properly arranged in light of the world pandemic.
Using Zoom as a platform for a purse ceremony was a new development for the WBC. At the upcoming WBC 58th Annual Convention, the WBC Board of Governors will consider a proposal to adjust the WBC Rules and Regulations as necessary to allow all purse bid ceremonies to be conducted electronically. That measure will save the participating promoters money and traveling time, and will allow the media and even the fans be present during purse offer ceremonies.
Olympic gold medallist Luke Campbell (20-3, 16KOs), 32 from Hull, was due to face 30-year-old Javier Fortuna in a title eliminator – but the Dominican will now meet Jorge Linares, 34, instead.
American Ryan Garcia (20-0, 17KOs), 21-years-old, known as 'Kingry', is highly-touted and tipped for big things in boxing. He has already won NABF Junior and NABF super featherweight titles, as well as the WBO NABO belt, before moving up to lightweight where he has now claimed another WBO NABO belt, along wth WBC Silver title. He was voted ESPN 'Prospect of the Year 2017'.
The Californian 'Flash' fought as recently as February this year when he KO'd world title contender Francisco Fonseca (25-2-2) in just 80 seconds in the first defence of his WBC Silver strap.
The winner of Garcia-Campbell for the WBC 'interim' title will move on to face WBC World lightweight champ Devin Haney (24-0, 15KOs).
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