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Ryan Garcia returns to the ring after resetting his mind

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Ryan Garcia quickly achieved what most boxers have struggled with in the age of social media. The Victorville native built a brand with his impressive eight million followers on Instagram without fighting in title fights and pay-per-view bouts.

But making people care is only half the battle in boxing. What Garcia did 15 months ago gave him a bigger presence in the sport than his massive social media following.

Garcia was viewed as a true lightweight contender when he rose from the canvas after taking a left hook from Luke Campbell and later returning the favor with a left hook to the body for a seventh-round technical knockout.

Garcia got his validation and decided it was time to unplug from the sport for mental health reasons. He’ll end his lengthy layoff Saturday against Emmanuel Tagoe for a DAZN-televised main event in San Antonio. The broadcast is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

“I miss everything about boxing: the competition, the contact, destroying someone,” Garcia said. “Seeing the shot, knowing where it is going to land, knowing that the timing is just perfect. I just love to fight and just be better than the person in front of me.”

The 23-year-old Garcia took heat for withdrawing against the dangerous Javier Fortuna last year, but he spent most of his youth selling himself on social media to get people to care in a sport that’s become an afterthought for most people his age.

Resetting his mind might turn out to be the best decision for Garcia’s boxing career. Garcia (21-0, 18 KOs) will find out Saturday against a rugged veteran in Tagoe (31-1, 15 KOs).

Here’s a glance at other notable events for a busy boxing Saturday:

GENNADIY GOLOVKIN vs. RYOTA MURATA

TV: DAZN

Time: 2:10 a.m.; main event approx. 5:00 a.m.

Location: Saitama, Japan

Golovkin will also end a lengthy layoff, but unlike Garcia, he doesn’t have youth on his side.

The fighter known as “GGG” turned 40 on Friday and he’ll celebrate by stepping into the ring for the first time in 16 months to face Murata on his home turf for a middleweight unification bout.

Golovkin (41-1-1, 36 KOs) probably didn’t envision himself fighting at 40 before he started his rivalry with Canelo Alvarez nearly five years ago. He’s chasing a third bout with Alvarez to possibly make things right on his end, but he won’t get a chance at closure without defeating Murata (16-2, 13 KOs). Golovkin also needs Alvarez to handle business against Dmitry Bivol next month to stage the grudge match in September.

The first installment of the rivalry featured a controversial draw and Alvarez took the second match with a majority decision. Golovkin strongly disagreed with both outcomes, and in his mind, he defeated the Mexican star twice.

That might not be enough for Golovkin and that could be why he continues to fight.

“I have been told by several reporters that Canelo wants to fight me again,” Golovkin said, “and that this time it is personal. If it is so personal, why has it taken him four years since our last fight? He pretends it is personal. I find it puzzling he would make such a claim.”

Golovkin is a minus-500 favorite to defeat Murata, but upsets have occurred in Japan – Buster Douglas defeating Mike Tyson comes to mind. Golovkin’s long chase for the 31-year-old Alvarez could soon end, but the veteran champion has all the pressure Saturday and he might need to win in style to prove Father Time hasn’t knocked at his door.

MIKAELA MAYER vs. JENNIFER HAN

TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN+

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Costa Mesa

Venue: O.C. Fair & Event Center, The Hangar

Mayer (16-0, 5 KOs) is returning home for her first bout in Southern California in four years. The IBF and WBO junior lightweight champion will headline an ESPN-televised bout against former champion Han (18-4-1, 1 KO).

This isn’t Mayer’s first main event and she has had several televised fights since she defeated Maria Semertzoglou in Carson in 2018. The Woodland Hills native has become one of Top Rank’s most notable fighters and that’s evident by the multi-year contract extension she recently signed with the promotional company.

“I haven’t fought in LA in a long time,” Mayer said. “It’s kind of come full circle. I started here 14 years ago when I was 17. And I left at 19 years old with a dream to become an Olympian and become one of the best female fighters in the world. Fourteen years later, I’m here fighting in the main event on ESPN. I’ve come a long way.”

ERICKSON LUBIN vs. SEBASTIAN FUNDORA

TV: Showtime

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Las Vegas

Junior middleweight contenders Lubin and Fundora will clash for the interim WBC title.

Lubin (24-1, 17 KOs) made his way to the top of the rankings early in his career, but the then-22-year-old suffered a knockout loss to Jermell Charlo in 2017. The 6-foot-5 Fundora (18-0-1, 12 KOs) has won five consecutive matches since a split draw against Jamontay Clark in 2019.

“I always knew I would get back to title contention,” Lubin said. “I dared to be great early. I tried to dethrone Jermell Charlo when I had just turned 22. I always knew I would be back in this position. It’s been only five years since that fight and I just get better every time I step into that ring.”

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