By: Sean Crose
“I’ve always predicted great things about him since I was a kid,” Joe Goosen said of Ryan Garcia, “and I stood by those predictions.” These must be words of encouragement Garcia hears, as he is currently being trained by Goosen to prepare for his comeback fight against Emmanuel Tagoe on April 9 at the Alamodome. Talking to FightHub’s Marcos Villegas, Goosen’s veteran coach talks about knowing the 23-year-old Garcia since the rising star was a teenager. “He trained at my gym for a few months and then we became close,” Goosen said of the boxer dubbed “King Ry.”
After stepping away from the sport to deal with some mental health issues, Garcia recently returned to the game and worked a bit with Canelo Alvarez’s famed coach Eddie Reynoso. The pairing failed, so Garcia turned to Goosen, someone he knew well. “I got a call from his attorney Lupe Valencia,” Goosen said of when the Garcia team contacted him for professional service. “He announced that it was a decision Ryan and his family had made and offered me the job… Of course I jumped in because I’ve always really enjoyed Ryan.”
Goosen went on to address rumors that Garcia lacked dedication. “He really wanted to work hard,” he said, “and he worked hard. and he always works hard as far as I’m concerned. “So the rumor is false? “I’ve only heard of it in the last few days,” Goosen said. “I’ve just never seen it personally.” Goosen went on to say that there are often stories. about fighters being found “It’s something to bother yourself,” he said, “when I really don’t want to worry about it.” Goosen’s concern for fighters His army, is the present.“Looking back at the past and the past won’t do you any good,” he added.
As for Garcia’s training, Goosen is observing his fighter with a keen eye. “It couldn’t be more perfect,” he told Villegas. “My job is to see what happens when you’re at the top of the game.” Regarding the specific battle plan for Garcia’s upcoming war, Goosen is very tight-lipped about his expertise. “In essence,” he said, “this is a war and you don’t want to give your enemy any ammunition.” However, with all eyes on his warrior, Goosen still believed that Garcia was in line.
“He has that element,” Goosen said of Garcia.
