News has been circulating that Ryan Garcia has reportedly enlisted former heavyweight boxer-turned-strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune to prepare for his comeback fight. “May 2nd. We are coming. Excited to be working with Ryan as his new strength & conditioning coach,” a recent post from Fortune Boing Gym’s Instagram handle read. Following the controversy surrounding last year’s bout against Devin Haney – which resulted in a year-long suspension after the New York State Athletic Commission upheld his drug test findings – Garcia is set to headline the Riyadh Season’s ‘Fatal Fury’ alongside Rolando Romero on May 2 at New York’s Times Square.

With just eight weeks remaining before the crucial showdown that could potentially lead to a rematch with Haney, Garcia’s decision to work with Fortune could spark a major debate. Fortune, who had an active boxing career from 1990 to 2009, participated in 26 professional bouts. He secured 15 victories while suffering nine defeats and two draws.

All about Justin Fortune: Chris Hemsworth’s son and others he has trained

Originally from Perth, Australia, Fortune has led a diverse career as a professional boxer, chef, and gym owner. It seems he had a natural inclination towards one-on-one sports like boxing and powerlifting over team sports. In boxing, Fortune’s most notable fight came in 1995 against Lennox Lewis. The bout in Dublin ended in a fourth-round stoppage loss.

A year before his retirement, Fortune opened a gym on Sunset Boulevard in 2008. It was subsequently demolished in December 2019. He subsequently established ‘Fortune Gym’ on Melrose Avenue, which embodies a classic boxing gym aesthetic with wooden floors and nostalgic decor. His clientele includes actors, musicians, and professional fighters.

While Fortune is most recognized for his work with Manny Pacquiao, he has also trained a range of well-known figures. Among them is Tristan Hemsworth, the son of actor Chris Hemsworth. The ‘Thor’ star, who has trained in boxing and mixed martial arts since his teenage years, introduced his son to Fortune.

“I spent many hours at @fortunegymboxing years back when I first moved to Hollywood auditioning and chasing work. To be back here with Justin now keeping my son sharp has been epic to watch,” the Hollywood icon reportedly stated.

Another notable name associated with Fortune is legendary boxer Israel Vasquez. Reports suggest heavyweight Joey Dawejko, former super flyweight champion and Olympian Jose Navarro, Australian women’s boxing champion Kyle Fulmer, and cruiserweight challenger Frankie Lopez frequent his gym.

What happened between Justin Fortune and Manny Pacquiao’s coach, Freddie Roach?

Perhaps what has kept Fortune in the headlines is his long-standing, complicated relationship with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach. Fortune trained under Roach before retiring in 2009 and later worked as Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach intermittently since 2001.

Tensions arose after Pacquiao’s knockout victory over Jorge Solis in 2007. Replacing Justin Fortune, strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza joined the team. He rejoined Pacquiao’s camp in 2013 for the Brandon Rios fight and remained part of the team until Pacquiao’s unanimous decision loss to Yordenis Ugas, which led to his retirement.

Post-fight, Pacquiao claimed his legs cramped during the bout, and Fortune stated he was unfairly blamed. “I can’t work with Freddie [Roach] anymore; he keeps blaming me. He always blames somebody else … he never takes responsibility,” Fortune told Business Mirror.

Justin Fortune teams up with Ryan Garcia

Quite a few sounded positive about Fortune’s addition to Garcia’s camp. Reacting to the news, renowned boxing reporter Elie Seckbach stated, “I know I can tell you Justin Fortune is not only one of the greatest strength conditioning coaches in boxing; he’s also a tremendous, tremendous human being.”

When Seckbach asked for his viewpoint, Ryan Garcia responded, “Justin, you know, he’s a legend in the strength and conditioning world. Worked with Manny Pacquiao and a lot of other great fighters, so, you know, I’m in good hands. I know that, you know, if I have somebody with that much experience, you know, I can’t go wrong. So he’s f**king me up with these workouts, but they’re going to be worth it, you know, when I knock out ‘Rolly.‘

With the fight drawing closer, speculation will continue. Only time will tell whether Fortune’s training methods will give Garcia the edge he needs in his Times Square showdown.

What do you think? Is Justin Fortune a positive addition to Garcia’s team, or do you share concerns about his history?