Ryan Garcia Considers Japan Exhibition During Boxing Ban
Ryan Garcia could take up an exhibition in Japan in December while he serves his one-year boxing ban.
Garcia is banned after testing positive for Ostarine after his win over Devin Haney. The ruling overturned Garcia’s win into a no-contest, meaning he cannot box until April 2025. That was a massive blow to Garcia, who had just secured the biggest win of his career, making him the face of boxing. Since then, his behavior has divided fans further.
Garcia was banned by the WBC following racial slurs and derogatory comments directed at Muslims, Christians and African Americans. His ex-wife, Andrea Celina, also accused Garcia of breaking into her home after she denied him the fight to see his kids. This was because of Garcia’s alleged substance abuse. While Garcia has said he will enter rehab, it appears he could box before his ban is over.
Garcia’s Exhibition
“BOMB! Ryan Garcia no longer works with Lupe Valencia: now his advisor is Kevin Esebag (who is Floyd Mayweather’s partner). And I hear that GBP has given Ryan permission to do an exhibition match in Japan (for RIZIN) in December of this year. So watch what’s coming.”
The news raises several questions about the boxing industry. First, Garcia could arguably have received a lifetime ban or a bigger one. Amir Khan received a two-year ban despite having a smaller amount of Ostarine in his system than Garcia. Khan even managed to have his defense of unintentional usage accepted.
Should It Happen?
An exhibition is also a dig at Devin Haney. The Dream is suing Garcia, stating that he suffered a loss of earnings due to his brand being damaged. After the Garcia fight, Haney was ordered to face his WBC mandatory Sandor Martin. However, only Top Rank made a purse bid, winning with a $2.42 million bid. Matchroom Boxing refused to bid, while Haney ended up vacating the title. If Garcia manages to make a huge sum in a one-off exhibition, it would reward a fighter who ultimately tested positive.
Garcia’s main focus should be on getting his health in a good place. This means taking a step back from boxing. After stopping Luke Campbell, he was out of the ring for around two years. That was the biggest win of his career at that point. But his struggles with mental health meant Garcia could not deal with the pressure. A fight in Japan in front of a global audience is no mean feat, especially given the scrutiny around Garcia. However, the boxer has made a public apology, which is the first step in dealing with his problems.
Reaction
“I’ve decided to get some help. I lost everything in the past couple of weeks. My boxing career, just so many other things. I hurt Andrea, I hurt you, I hurt our kids, I hurt everybody around me for my actions. I’m sorry, but I know our kids will watch these when they get older. I’m so sorry. I lost everything. I lost the one thing I ever loved, who knew me the most. Andrea knows me the most. I’m sorry, Andrea, I feel bad.
“I retract all my statements about her. She never stole money from me and never did wrong to me. She never cheated on me. We weren’t together, so she’s not a cheater right there. She’s a great woman.“Saying that, I finally decided to get some help. I’m going to rehab, and you will see a change in the next couple of months. I’ve got to handle some things, but after that, I’m going to check myself into rehab and get better,” Garcia said
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