Ryan Garcia vs Emmanuel Tagoe Preview April 9th, 2022
Unbeaten prospect Ryan Garcia of Los Angeles will be taking on Emmanuel Tagoe of Ghana this Saturday, April 9th. The 12-round bout from San Antonio, Texas can be seen live in most nations on DAZN and is scheduled to be held at a catchweight of 139 lbs. Garcia last fought in January, 2021 when he picked himself up from the canvas in the second round to stop Luke Campbell in the seventh round for the interim WBC Lightweight Title. Tagoe last fought in November, 2020 when he beat Mason Menard via a 10-round majority decision.
**Watch live on DAZN this Saturday. Your first month is free.
Garcia vs Tagoe Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Emmanuel Tagoe +800
- Ryan Garcia -1500
My Pick
The 23-year-old Garcia is a perfect 21-0 with 18 big Ko’s for a current knockout ratio of 85.7 per cent. He’s 5-feet-10-inches tall with a 70-inch reach and possesses tremendous speed and fine boxing skills. He made his pro debut in 2016 and has boxed 67 rounds since. Along the way, he’s also captured the vacant NABF Junior Super Featherweight Title as well as the NABF, and WBO NABO Super Featherweight Crowns.
Garcia’s toughest opponents to date were Campbell and veteran Jayson Velez who went the distance with him in May, 2018 only to lose a 10-round unanimous decision for the vacant NABF and WBO NABO Super Featherweight Crowns. Garcia’s also beaten the likes of Carlos Morales, Jose Lopez, Braulio Rodriguez, Fernando Vargas Parra and Noe Martinez Raygoza.
Garcia’s being groomed to be a world champion by promoter Oscar De La Hoya and appears to have all the tools necessary to succeed and was named the 2017 prospect of the year by ESPN. He enjoyed a fine amateur career by going 215-15. He won a silver medal at the USA Junior National (Under-17) Championships in 2014 when he lost to Devin Haney in the final. Garcia made the quarterfinals at the USA Youth National (Under-19) Championships in 2015 and lost to Haney once again. However, he did beat Vergil Ortiz in his opening bout. He then won gold at the USA Youth National (Under-19) Championships in 2016.
The 33-year-old Tagoe is a relative unknown to most boxing fans but the native of Accra enters the contest with a fine mark of 32-1 with 15 Kos. He has previously held the Ghanaian Featherweight Crown, WBO African Super Featherweight Title, the IBF Inter-Continental Super Featherweight Crown, the WBO African Lightweight Title, the WBO Global Lightweight Title and both the WBA and IBO International Lightweight Belts.
He also won the vacant IBO World Lightweight title in December, 2016 by beating Mzonke Fana by unanimous decision. His lone loss came at the hands of Lante Addy when he was reportedly stopped in the fifth round in his pro debut. Since then he’s reeled off 32 straight wins and owns a current knockout ratio of 45.5 per cent. Tagoe is 5-feet-8-inches tall with an unlisted reach, so gives up two inches in height to Garcia.
Tagoe began boxing at the age of 15 but has fought outside of his homeland just twice, with both fights coming in America. This will be his second straight outing in the USA. His biggest wins have been against Fana, Oscar, Bravo, George Ashie, Allan Kamote, Carlo Magali, Fernando David Saucedo, Moses Paulus, Vyacheslav Gusev and Mason Menard. Tagoe has a solid chin and may need it come Saturday night.
Prediction…
Tagoe is a solid boxer with a good chin and average power but he’s facing a boxer who’s 10 years younger who has superior skills, speed and power. Garcia was faced with some adversity the last time out as he was dropped by Luke Campbell and responded well. This is a pretty good test for both boxers and while it should be an intriguing fight, I’m expecting Garcia to come out on top.
Garcia has the edge youth, speed and skills.
Play: Garcia -1500 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Emmanuel Tagoe betting • Ryan Garcia betting