Ryan Garcia delivers first pitch like a champ before Angels game

Tom Gatto

Ryan Garcia delivers first pitch like a champ before Angels game image

Ryan Garcia knocked out his first-pitch duties with ease Thursday night.

The rising boxing star delivered a strike before the Angels' game vs. the A's in Anaheim, Calif., after showing off some fancy footwork.

Looks like the kid has a pretty good hook from the mound to match the hooks he delivers in the ring. (Video courtesy DAZN's "ChangeUp.")

The 20-year-old Garcia (18-0, 15 KOs) has been making a strong case for a lightweight title opportunity. The Los Angeles native and Golden Boy Promotions fighter is coming off a stoppage in his last fight March 30, when he made Jose Lopez's corner throw in the towel after the second round.

MORE: Watch 'ChangeUp,' a new MLB live whiparound show on DAZN 

Garcia made it clear after dispatching Lopez that he wanted a title shot soon, specifically against junior lightweight champion Gervonta Davis.

"Do I think I'm ready for a world title this year?" he said after his fight on DAZN. "Hell, yes."

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Garcia challenged Davis and his promoter, Mayweather Promotions.

"And also, I wanted to say something to the Mayweather camp that keeps running their mouth, man. Don't worry ... you get your fights up and I will whoop your ass anywhere," Garcia said. "Let's do it. I ain't intimidated by Mayweather. Nobody could intimidate me."

Tom Gatto

Tom Gatto Photo

Tom Gatto joined The Sporting News as a senior editor in 2000 after 12 years at The Herald-News in Passaic, N.J., where he served in a variety of roles including sports editor, and a brief spell at APBNews.com in New York, where he worked as a syndication editor. He is a 1986 graduate of the University of South Carolina.