All potential boxing superstars have questions. Can you handle a real step in the opposition? Can you handle real suffering? Will you find a way to climb off the canvas and succeed? Those questions are loud and big. Ryan Garcia asked each of those questions against Luke Campbell in Dallas on Saturday, and scored a body shot knockout in the seventh round of their fight for the interim WBC Lightweight Championship.

Garcia took control by aggression early in the fight, pushing his own hard left hooks and straight right hand to land via Campbell’s jab. Garcia’s hand speed troubled Campbell and he was unable to establish a clear attacking game plan. But, in Round 2, Campbell landed a large left hook, which shook Garcia’s head and dropped 22-year-old Prodigy on canvas.

Garcia took himself off the canvas and fought his way to the end of the second round, immediately composing himself in the corner before regaining control of the fight and piling up rounds on the scorecards.

“I have never given up on my life,” Garcia said after the fight. “I think I was a little excited at this point. I knew I was in control. I wanted him to rule the dog. I wanted him to explode. He exploded at me. … I fainted a little, I’m not going to lie. But it’s not bad.”

Garcia looked close to reaching a stop at the end of the 5th round, landing a large left hook and right upwards, which caused Campbell to stumble on the ropes. Campbell was saved by the bell before Garcia could follow, but before Garcia’s pressure, speed and power things were over he realized it was only a matter of time.

In round 7, Garcia closed the show and landed with a broken left hook on the body. Campbell took a knee after a late reaction, but the referee reached 10 to give Garcia a knockout victory at 1:58.

Garcia boxing has been criticized by some corners of the world for being both classic (good looks and advertising hype) and modern (the status of a social media “influence”). The fight with Campbell, a former Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion, has been hanging around the division’s elite for years, with many of those critics considering the competition for the young star too big to go one step further. Campbell did not stop at his three previous losses, including managing the war when he was overthrown by Vasily Lomasenko, and Garcia got a nice feather in his cap.

The rising Mexican-American star was overwhelmed by the feeling that she had to close those doubts during her post-fight interview.

“I think I showed a lot of people who I really am,” Garcia said. “Going into this fight, I wanted to show people that no matter what they call you, they like to call me a ‘social media fighter’ and so on. Your teacher can call you things, even your parents. Remember, people do not tell you who you are. You choose who you are. Tonight I chose to be a champion. I will not give up anything. Stop me when he abandons me. I got up. ‘Yo, I’m abandoned, this is crazy.’ ‘

The lightweight division is the most exciting of all boxers. Young stars Tefimo Lopez, Kervonda “Tank” Davis and Devin Hane are in control for 135 pounds. Despite all the accomplishments such as Lopez defeating Lopasenko to win three of the four recognized World Championships, Garcia may still be the most influential person in and out of the ring in terms of his stellar power.

With the ability to call his shot, Garcia said he just wanted to fight Honey, but zeroed in on Davis as the best option to move forward.

“I am the man of my word,” Garcia said. “Let’s go, tank. Let’s go. I see you, Devin Hane. I like him. I want to fight with him too. But I really want to fight the tank. I know people care about that, but I’m ready. I fought with an Olympic gold medalist. .Lomachenko could not stop him .Linares could not finish him .I showed today that I was special. “

Fight card, results

• Ryan Garcia Def. Luke Campbell via TKO – Round 7 to seek WBC Interim Lightweight title
• Roger Guterres Def. Renே Alvarado (C) by unanimous decision (113-112, 113-112, 113-112) to win the WBA (regular) Super Featherweight title
• Felix Alvarado (e) Def. DJ Creel – DKO – Round 10 to retain IPF Junior Flyweight title
• Raul Curiel Def. TKO – Ramses Agadan via Round 2
• Sean Garcia Def. Renே Marquez by majority decision (38-38, 39-37, 39-37)

Garcia vs. Campbell scorecard, live coverage