Ryan Garcia’s distance management was the silent key to his win over Conor Benn.
He kept the fight at the range he had interest in keeping the fight at the end of the day, not the range anyone else had interest in.
Boxing on the outside proved excellent for Garcia for the most part but covered up on the inside too solidly at times.
Some notes on the distance he used and more;
- Benn’s speed was considered his biggest threat, it proved deadly at middle to long range
- Garcia maintained range: close enough to counter, far enough to avoid
- He used his jab to measure distance and disrupt entries
- When Benn stepped in, Garcia pivoted or countered
- His longer reach allowed him to control the pocket
- The weight cut may have sapped Benn’s explosiveness
- His footwork kept him off the ropes for most of the fight
- The stoppage came with Benn on the ropes, a reversal
- Distance control requires discipline and ring IQ, he proved he has much of it
- Neutralizing Benn’s speed forced him to fight at Garcia’s pace
Overall, Garcia brought together many tools in his tool belt that he needed but if he did not keep the fight at middle to long range, they may have not been effective.
The inside had been Conor Benn’s best chance but in the end Ryan Garcia proved too good a boxer for him, simply put.
The Garcia vs Benn bout delivered entertainment for its short duration in the end.
Attention turns to a possible Garcia v Haney rematch next up, if they try to make it.
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