Ryan Garcia will return to the boxing ring as early as January 2025. Is that even possible? The one-year ban slapped on him for using PEDs won’t be over by January, right?
Well, Garcia will be taking part in an exhibition fight against French boxer Jaber Zayani. The event will also have musical performances and other entertainment gigs.
The boxer shared the news on Instagram with a poster of the event. He tagged Zayani as well, who confirmed it with a poster of his own, tagging Garcia back and telling him, “See you soon“.
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King Ry has not shared the exact date or other specifics, including the rules, of the exhibition bout. This could be his attempt to stay active during the suspension while having some fun at the same time.
And, compared to what Garcia has done in his spare time in the past, this is definitely an improvement and an infinitely harmless act.
In June 2023, the boxer was arrested and charged with felony vandalism after allegedly causing more than $15,000 worth of damage to the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills.
Even worse was prior to the fight against Devin Haney earlier this year. There he tested positive for PEDs and was then sued by his opponent for battery.
Garcia shocked the world when he drubbed Haney in the ring. He knocked him down multiple times on his way to a decision victory. A day before the fight, on April 19, and after the bout, doping control collected Garcia’s urine samples, which returned positive for ostarine.
Garcia blamed it on an Indian herb, Ashwagandha, he was taking at the time. But the New York State Athletic Commission banned him for a year.
This was just the beginning of the boxer’s troubles in 2024. The irony is that Garcia filmed all of his troubles at the time. From speculating on conspiracy theories to making deeply racist statements, the 25-year-old boxer has always found his way into one mess after another.
That makes this fight, an entertainment stunt at best, a good thing. After all, it won’t be landing him in any trouble with the law. Though it is a drop in the level of competition, the bout will be a good way for him to get in some rounds with another boxer, that too with a crowd watching.
It’s all still a bit disappointing when we consider that Garcia had promised a bigger, much bigger name for an exhibition bout earlier this year.
Garcia over promises with Manny Pacquiao
In July this year, during a live stream with Vitaly TV, Garcia promised his followers a money fight with the Manny Pacquiao. While many were skeptical about it, Garcia remained convinced he could pull it off before the end of 2024.
“Yeah yeah I’m fighting Manny Pacquiao guys, let’s get it. We’re tryna work on it, probably end of the year for sure.”
Garcia is now fighting an 18-0 upcoming boxer instead. This fight would act as a tune-up for the American.
Having said that, if King Ry manages to lose against an untested boxer, it could jeopardize his shot at the title against Haney, whenever he returns to prizefighting.
If he wins, well, at least, we will know how much he’s been training.
