Till last year, he enjoyed an unbeaten record, where nearly 80% of his wins came by early stoppages. However, Ryan Garcia, the rising star of boxing, had everything going for him until he met with a force so strong that he barely managed to salvage his sinking ship. It’s been over six months since he’s been out of the ring. Putting his first career loss to Gervonta Davis aside, the young Californian, it seems, is now ready to move on.

After months, through the acrimonious exchanges with his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, and changing trainer, Garcia, will finally march into the ring. In Oscar Duarte he appears to have found an opponent who can once again catapult him into the big league that was, a few months ago, well within his reach.

Maybe not perfect, but still a worthy comeback: Ryan Garcia

The two fighters met and faced each other at the kick-off press conference. During the Q&A session, the host highlighted Garcia’s journey, from the fighting days in Tijuana, and emphasized how he came through sheer grit and determination. The host said, “…but you’ve had to work your way; you’ve had to grind to where you’re at. Nothing’s going to be easy for you in this fight against Oscar Duarte. You could have chosen anybody else, but why Duarte?”

‘KingRy’ explained that he had to fulfill his desire to become a world champion. However, the easy fights were not the route he would prefer. Fully understanding what Oscar Duarte, a solid and agile fighter, brings to the table, a battle with him seemed sensible.

He said, “…so I knew that Oscar uh was a challenge he’s fast he’s strong got good timing so uh it just made sense for me, you know, this fight, you know, if I show what I could do, you know [to] prepare me for the bigger fight fights so uh that’s where I’m at right now you know I’m refreshed um renewing myself honing my skills, and that’s what I’m focused on just becoming a champion at 140 so I feel like Oscar was the perfect person to come back with.”

On Saturday, December 2, the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, will host Ryan Garcia and Oscar Duarte for a 140-pound non-title bout.

Not a picnic

Many boxing fans would love to see what changes and adjustments Derrick James introduced to Ryan Garcia’s boxing style. As many fans might wish, it could be the fight that can help him bounce back. His opponent in December may not be as crippling as Gervonta Davis. But with a roughly 81% knockout-to-win rate, Duarte seems to enjoy putting early stops to fights. Undoubtedly, the excitement around the match is bound to increase over time.

The 140-pound division is teeming with outstanding talents. Besides reigning belt holders Teofimo Lopez, Rolando Romero, Regis Prograis, and Subriel Matias, the Light Welterweight now boasts the presence of former undisputed champion Devin Haney. So, even if he wins the fight against Duarte, Garcia has a big task at hand: dealing with one big name after another before he can realize his dream of becoming a world champion.

Read More: Months After Devastating Loss Against Gervonta Davis, Oscar De La Hoya Warns Ryan Garcia Of Picking Another ‘Knockout Artist’ As His Opponent

What’s your take? Do you believe that Ryan Garcia could make a complete return to the big league? Please share your views with us in the comments below.

Watch This Story: Ryan Garcia & Sean O’Malley Twitter Beef Turns into Fight Call-Out