Questions are there for all would-be boxing stars. Can you handle a real move in the opposition? Can you handle real adversity? Climb off the canvas and find a way to win? These questions louder the more noise. Ryan Garcia was asked each of these questions against Luke Campbell in Dallas on Saturday and he answered with a resounding „yes”, as he scored a knockout in the seventh round of their fight for the interim WBC Lightweight Championship.

Garcia established control through aggression early in the fight, pressing through Campbell’s hit to land with his steel left hook and straight right hands. Garcia’s hand was making Campbell uncomfortable and unable to create any clear offensive game plan. But, in the second round, Campbell landed with the left hook of a huge sweeper that shook Garcia’s head and dropped the 22-year-old prodigy onto the canvas.

Garcia snatched himself off the board and worked his way through to the end of the second round, positioning himself in a corner before he immediately took control of the fight again, piling rounds onto the score cards.

„I’ve never fallen in my life,” Garcia said after the fight. „I think I was a bit excited during this moment. I knew I was in control and wanted to play it. I wanted to break it and it broke me. … I felt a little dizzy. I wouldn’t do a lie. But it wasn’t that bad.”

Garcia seemed about to get a stop at the end of the fifth round, as he dropped a large left hook and an upper right hook that caused Campbell to trip the ropes. Campbell was rescued by the bell before Garcia could continue, but it seemed like only a matter of time before Garcia’s pressure, speed, and strength ended matters.

In the seventh round, Garcia ended the show, dropping an overwhelming left hook onto the body. Campbell injured the knee after a late reaction but was unable to get back to his feet as the referee counted 10 to give Garcia a knockout victory at the 1:58 mark from the round.

Garcia has been criticized by some corners of the boxing world for reasons both classic (good looks and promotional advertising) and modern („influencer” status on social media). Many of these critics considered the battle with Campbell, a former Olympic gold medalist and two-time world title contestant who had hung around the elite in the division for years, too much of a competition progression over the young star. Campbell has not been stopped in his previous three losses, including his management to strike back when he was fallen by Vasily Lomachenko, giving Garcia a nice feather in his hat.

The rising Mexican-American star enjoyed feeling shutting down these doubts during his post-fight interview.

„I think I’ve shown a lot of people what I really am,” Garcia said. “While fighting this battle, I wanted to explain to people that no matter what they call them, they want to call me a“ fighter on social media ”and a lot of things. Your teacher can call you things, or even your parents, and anyone trying to put you in that you can’t become a thing. You are not the person other people tell you. You choose to be. I chose to be the hero tonight. I would let nothing stop me, even when I drop me. I got up. It was a good shot. I was cold and knocking me out. I was like, “I fell. This is madness.”

The lightweight division is arguably the most exciting of all boxing. Young stars like Teofimo Lopez, Gervunta „Tank” Davis and Devin Hanei managed to control 135 pounds. Despite the achievements of all of the participants, such as Lopez’s victory over Lopez to win three of the four recognized tournaments, Garcia might be the most influential man based on his star power both in and out of the ring.

With the ability to summon his shot, Garcia said he would like to fight Hanyi, but he focused on Davis as his best option going forward.

„I am a man who sticks to my word,” said Garcia. „Let’s go, Tank. Let’s go. And I see you, Devin Hani. I love him. I want to fight him too. But I really want to fight Tank. I know people are worried about that, but I’m ready. I fought the Olympic gold medalist. Lamashenko couldn’t stop him.” Linares couldn’t finish it. Today I showed that I am special. „

Fight Card, Results

• Ryan Garcia Dev. Luke Campbell via TKO – Round 7 to claim the WBC Lightweight interim title
• Roger Gutierrez was defeated. René Alvarado (c) via unanimous resolution (113-112, 113-112, 113-112) to win the (Regular) World Boxing Association title in featherweight
• Felix Alvarado (c) def. DeeJay Kriel via TKO – Round 10 to hold the IBF junior flyweight title
• Raul Corel Dev. Ramses Agaton via TKO – Second round
• Sean Garcia Dave. René Marquez via majority decision (38-38, 39-37, 39-37)

Garcia vs Campbell Scorecard, live coverage