Eridson Garcia has vowed to make his vast experience count as he eyes victory over Japan’s Taiga Imanaga on the final major boxing event of 2025 – Ring V: Night of the Samurai.

The 10-round lightweight contest is expected to be an explosive bout as both southpaws make their Riyadh Season debuts.

In the biggest fight of his career, the 31-year-old Dominican Republic fighter Garcia has taken everything in his stride ahead of the contest and is intent on showing his 26-year-old rival his class and boxing know-how.

“My advantage is I have more experience than him,” said the BiYu Promotions fighter, who has a 22-1 record, including 14 knockouts, compared to Imanaga, who has an unbeaten 9-0 (5KOs) and has only fought 10 rounds once.

“I am coming to win, and I am coming to show who I am.”

There was little to separate the two fighters at the pre-fight weigh-in with Garcia coming in at 134.5lbs, just 0.1lbs lighter than his rival, who is being touted as the future of Japanese boxing.

Garcia, who is ranked 10th by the WBO, will be using the fight to showcase his talent as he looks to secure a world title shot in 2026, having stepped in as a late call-up at the start of December.

The Imanaga v Garcia fight is the second bout on the card, which is headlined by the super bantamweight world title contest between Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue and Mexico’s unbeaten David Picasso.

All fights are live on DAZN and the Imanaga v Garcia ring walk is expected around 4.50am Eastern Time.

Image: Matchroom Boxing / Mark Robinson