Ryan Garcia, in a recent scathing critique, blasted Shakur Stevenson for his performance against Edwin De Los Santos on November 16th, labeling it as “poor” and accusing Stevenson of being “arrogant”. In the fight that concluded with Stevenson winning the vacant WBC lightweight title through a unanimous decision, Garcia pointed out a stark contrast between Stevenson’s lackluster performance and the biased commentary by ESPN’s broadcast team. He emphasized the dissonance between the commentators’ praise for Stevenson and the actuality of the fight, where Stevenson appeared to be more focused on evading engagement rather than controlling the bout.
Garcia expressed frustration with what he perceived as biased commentary. He argued that the ESPN commentators should have been more objective, highlighting the disparity in their interpretation of the fighters’ actions in the ring. According to Garcia, the commentators praised Stevenson for “controlling the fight” despite his passive approach, a narrative that he found unconvincing and biased.
Adding to his criticism, Garcia shared a personal encounter with Stevenson that left a negative impression, reinforcing his view of Stevenson’s arrogance. He recalled an incident where Stevenson’s dismissive behavior irked him, illustrating what he perceives as Stevenson’s lack of humility and self-awareness.
Furthermore, Garcia took issue with the state of boxing commentary on ESPN, yearning for the days of commentators like Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant, and Roy Jones Jr. He longs for a more straightforward, honest style of commentary that does not shy away from critiquing fighters, regardless of their status or affiliation with the broadcasting network.
Image Credit: ESPN