Bryan Lua

Just 20 years old, Bryan is a rising young prospect at 130 pounds. He had a good amateur career at the national level before his debut.

He is co-managed and trained by Robert Garcia, the Boxing Writers Association of America “2012 Trainer of the Year,” and a former IBF junior lightweight world champion.

Bryan stayed active in the ring with five fights in his first 17 months as a pro. He is fighting for the fourth time in 2018.

In his last fight on May 26 in Fresno, California, he won by third-round knockout against Francisco Camacho.

Boxingscene.com’s Keith Idec reported [excerpts]: Lightweight prospect Bryan Lua floored Francisco Camacho three times in the third round on his way to stopping him in that round.

The 20-year-old Lua, of Madera, California, upped his record to 5-0 and produced his second knockout.

Lua hurt Camacho with a left hook to the body that produced the first of three knockdowns during the third round.

Camacho made it to his feet, but Lua landed a straight right hand to the body that sent him to the canvas again. A game Camacho got up again, yet he couldn’t keep Lua off of him.

Lua cracked Camacho with a combination that included a left hook and a straight right hand and dropped him again. Their fight was stopped after the third knockdown, at 2:43 of the third round. [End Idec item]

Trainer Robert Garcia said, “I started working with Bryan when he turned pro. I knew who he was in the amateurs because my son, Robert Jr., travels a lot with the amateurs and he kept telling me, ‘Dad, you’ve got to see this kid.’

“He wasn’t a standout amateur or anything like that, but his style – we knew he was going to be a hell of a pro.

“He’s very aggressive, has tremendous heart, and he hits hard. He doesn’t have a knockout yet, but that’s because his opponents have been pretty tough.”

Bryan said, “When I was 16 or 17 years old in the amateurs, Robert Garcia said he was interested in training me, but I was busy with school and stuff. I told him I would keep that in mind, and that I would call him when I was done with school. When I signed with Top Rank, I decided to call Robert and it went pretty well. There’s a good chemistry between me and him.

“I train at the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Riverside. I’ve been sparring Mikey Garcia, Hector Tanajara. I also sparred Brandon Rios and Lindolfo Delgado – he’s a Mexican Olympian. There’s a lot of good sparring at Robert’s gym – we’re always busy.

“I’m a boxer-puncher. If I can box a guy, I’ll box him. But if I know I can take him out, I’ll put pressure. I like to counterpunch, too.

“In the amateurs, my coaches and my dad called me ‘The Lion,’ but I don’t like that nickname.”