Inactivity may cost Ryan Garcia as the knockout-punching prospect needs to fight more, says boxing expert

• Gen Z superstar Ryan Garcia must be more active if he is to succeed in the fight game.
• That's according to top California boxing coach Jose Saucedo, who otherwise praised the youngster.

LOS ANGELES — One of California's top boxing coaches Jose Saucedo wants to see Ryan Garcia fight more frequently as, he claims, inactivity could cost him in the ring one day.

Garcia is one of the most exciting contenders in the ultra competitive lightweight division but has not fought since claiming off the canvas to knockout Luke Campbell in an action match 13 months ago.

He makes his return against Emmanuel Tagoe atop a Golden Boy Promotions on DAZN card April 9 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Saucedo has been working with Golden Boy for more than a decade, and has seen some of America and Mexico's best boxers walk through his Westside Boxing Club doors — Garcia included.

"I've known Ryan since the amateur times and he's always been that kid, like, moving around and everything. He's very popular right now," Saucedo said in a nod to the Gen Z superstar's following of 8.7 million people on Instagram.

But he's not just good on social media. "He's a good boxer," Saucedo said.

Against Luke Campbell in January 2021, Garcia had to demonstrate intestinal fortitude to beat Luke Campbell by seventh-round knockout at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.

"He showed a lot of courage in that one," Saucedo said. "Luke dropped him with one punch but the kid got up, listened to his corner, and made the adjustments to get his knockout. That's how boxers need to respond."

Garcia is expected to breeze past Tagoe before, hopefully, teeing up more frequent fights this year and next.

The 23-year-old competes in the same weight class as Olympic boxing legend Vasiliy Lomachenko, as well as other top tier fighters in their mid-20s like Teofimo Lopez, Gervonta Davis, Devin Haney, and the unified world champion George Kambosos.

But Saucedo must get more rounds in, and secure more fights and experience, if he is to succeed at that level, Saucedo argues.

"I think inactivity could affect him a little bit," said Saucedo.

"He's facing this guy, and a lot of people don't know him, but he's had 33 fights and, win or lose, 33 fights is more experience," than Garcia.

Saucedo finished: "He needs more activity in the ring."