Ryan Garcia likens trainer Joe Goossen to Mike Tyson's old coach Cus D'Amato

Ryan Garcia insists his trainer Joe Goossen is similar to Mike Tyson‘s legendary boxing coach Cus D’Amato.

The American is currently preparing for his return to the ring following back-to-back finishes of Luke Campbell and Francisco Fonseca.

Garcia, 23, has enlisted the help of Goosen as he prepares to fight Emmanuel Tagoe.

‘The Flash’ faces the Ghanaian on April 9 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Despite his age, the 23-year-old admits he has always been fascinated by the old way of doing things.

And the former WBC interim lightweight champion reckons his fellow countryman is cut from the same cloth.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Garcia explained how his relationship with Goossen goes all the way back to his amateur days.

He said: “I have a connection with Joe from the amateurs.

“When I was 17, he was training me a little bit.

“Joe’s an old-school guy, and I feel like I have an old-school soul when it comes to the game, so we just really have a good chemistry.

“I think that’s what propelled me to pick him.”

As he gears up to face Tagoe in Texas’ second-largest city next Saturday, Garcia believes he is in the best shape of his life.

Indeed the Ring Magazine’s No5-ranked lightweight in the world feels that Goosen has already brought the best out of him despite only spending a few months together.

He added: “Joe can bring a lot out of you – he can bring a lot of grit.

“He’s one of those, like I said, old-school type of trainers like Cus D’Amato, just that rough type of person, and to me, I love that.”

In Goossen, Garcia recognises something of a kindred spirit.

Moreover, he also claims he has finally found someone who he can rely on day in day out.

“Joe has the same mentality as me when it comes to training,” he