For the third time in five fights, boxing star Ryan Garcia will have a new corner team when he takes on Mexican puncher Oscar Duarte at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, on December 2. The 12-round super lightweight bout, plus undercard action, will air live on DAZN worldwide.
In January 2021, Garcia fought his last fight with Mexican trainer Eddy Reynoso, who had been in his corner for over three years. The young Californian got off the floor that night to stop Luke Campbell in what was a career-best victory. Following an extended layoff, Garcia returned to the sport alongside venerable coach Joe Goossen. That marriage lasted one year and three fights, the last of which saw Garcia suffer the first loss of his professional career at the hands of Gervonta Davis.
WATCH: Ryan Garcia vs. Oscar Duarte, live on DAZN
When Garcia signed up with Derrick James in May, the Houston-based coach was enjoying the type of success with which he’s become accustomed to over the past several years. The former Ring Magazine Trainer of the year was working with pound-for-pound entrants Errol Spence Jr. and Jermell Charlo, as well as former two-time heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua. Fast-forward a little over six months and Spence and Charlo have taken beatdowns from Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez, respectively, while Joshua has defected to Ben Davison, reportedly for one fight against Otto Wallin.
A boxing trainer perpetually faces the same hard truth as a boxer in that you’re only as good as your last fight. When you’re winning, everything you touch turns to gold, and people are patting you on the back. When you’re losing, everything you touch turns to stone, and a lot of people are walking in the opposite direction.
However, as is the case with a fighter, a setback for a coach is the perfect segue to a memorable comeback. For James, this Garcia assignment is a large undertaking and there will be a lot of eyes on the trainer-fighter chemistry on Saturday night. Both Reynoso and Goossen have gone on record to state that Garcia, despite his talent, can be difficult to train.
Can James turn this young star around and help get both men back to winning ways. The Sporting News takes a look at Derrick James’ background and career highlights:
Who is Derrick James?
James is an ex-professional fighter who retired with a modest 21-7-1 record as a super middleweight. The only notable opponent on his resume is former WBO middleweight titleholder Otis Grant, who defeated James via disqualification (repeated low blows) in 1995.
However, the Texas-based James certainly found his calling as a trainer, taking the likes of Errol Spence Jr. and Jermell Charlo to the elite level in their respective divisions.
Spence became welterweight champion in 2017 and unified three-quarters of the division before the Crawford defeat in July of this year. The super-tough and equally talented lefty has scored wins over Kell Brook, Shawn Porter, and Yordenis Ugas.
MORE: Why Ryan Garcia 2.0 can still be great
Meanwhile, in 2022, Jermell Charlo became the first undisputed super welterweight champion since Winky Wright some 18 years earlier. His signature triumphs have come against Austin Trout, Jeison Rosario, Tony Harrison, and Brian Castano.
And while James didn’t get Joshua back to his vintage best in 2023, he did help the power-punching Brit to secure wins over Jermain Franklin and Robert Helenius.
The Ring Magazine named James Trainer of the Year in 2017, and his knowledge of the sport is beyond reproach.
