Ryan Garcia staggered Luke Campbell with a body blow after coming back from an early knockdown, winning a WBC lightweight title fight on a seventh-round knockout Saturday night.
The 22-year-old California was in control when his left hand to Campbell's right side sent the English fighter to one knee at 1:58 of the seventh. Campbell couldn't get up, giving the undefeated Garcia his 18th knockout in 21 fights.
Campbell (20-4) knocked down Garcia with a left hook in the second round, but didn't land many other punches while Garcia was the more aggressive fighter until the decisive blow.
FILE - In this Nov. 2, 2019 file photo, Ryan Garcia, looks on after landing a punch to Romero Duno (not seen) during their lightweight boxing match in Las Vegas. Garcia meets Britain’s Luke Campbell, a 2012 Olympic champion, in an interim WBC lightweight title fight. The bout was postponed a month and moved from California after Campbell tested positive for COVID-19.(AP PhotoIsaac Brekken, File)
The bout was postponed about a month because Campbell tested positive for COVID-19. It was moved to Texas because of coronavirus restrictions in Garcia's home state.
“I've never been dropped in my life,” said Garcia, a rising star with a large social media following. “I think I got a little too excited in the moment.”
Campbell had lost two previous title fights after winning a gold medal at his home Olympics in London in 2012. It was the fifth straight knockout for Garcia since what his camp considered a disappointing majority decision over Carlos Morales in 2018.
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic retired on Monday.
Raonic was the first Canadian man to reach a Grand Slam final in 2016 at Wimbledon. He beat Roger Federer in the semifinals 6-3, 6-7, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 and lost to Andy Murray in the final.
That year, he also reached the Australian Open semifinals, suffering an adductor injury when he led Murray two sets to one, and qualified for the ATP Finals for the first time. He ended the year at a career-high No. 3 ranking.
“I have been the luckiest person to get to live out and fulfill my dreams,” Raonic said on X. “I got to show up every day and focus on just getting better, seeing where that will take me, and playing a game I was introduced to at 8 years old by complete luck. Somehow, this became my entire obsession and childhood, and then became my profession and life.”
Big-serving Raonic, nicknamed “Missile,” won eight ATP singles titles after turning professional in 2011.
He holds the record for most aces in a three-set match, 47, at Queen's Club in 2024 and played his last career match soon after at the Paris Olympics, a 7-6, 6-7, 6-7 loss to Dominik Koepfer in the first round.
“The time has come, I am retiring from tennis,” the 35-year-old Raonic said. “This is a moment you know will come one day, but somehow you never feel ready for it. This is as ready as I will ever be. Tennis has been my love and obsession for most of my life,” Raonic said.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
FILE - Milos Raonic of Canada waves as he leaves Rod Laver Arena after retiring from his first round match against Alex de Minaur of Australia at the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
