Ryan Garcia may have his choose of two huge world title fights as soon as he’s served his one-year ban from boxing.
The New York State Athletic Fee fined Garcia $10,000 and suspended him for one 12 months from the date of the struggle after the 25-year-old, who scored a majority choice win over Devin Haney on April 20, examined optimistic for Ostarine — a performance-enhancing drug — on the day earlier than, and day of, the WBC tremendous light-weight title struggle.
The optimistic medicine check wasn’t the one controversy as Garcia additionally missed the 140-pound weight restrict by 3.2 kilos and was by no means eligible to struggle for Haney’s WBC championship.
Regardless, Garcia’s star continues to shine as a result of, within the final week alone, the 25-year-old performed poker at probably the most well-known livestream reveals, Hustler On line casino Stay, and tried his hand on the comedy circuit on the Snort Manufacturing facility.
He’s threatened retirement, too, however will doubtless return to the game as soon as he’s served his ban, which expires in April 2025.
And, from what World Boxing Information has heard, he received’t even want to attend lengthy or get in line for a giant struggle, as influential figures in boxing are eyeing him up for a potential showdown as quickly as he’s capable of get again within the ring.
For Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, “the largest struggle out there’s a Ryan Garcia rematch, offering it’s at a distinct weight class,” Premier Boxing Champions guide Stephen Espinoza informed World Boxing Information this month.
Espinoza was chatting with us after Garcia’s optimistic check outcomes, however previous to his suspension. Although he mentioned fights involving Tank in opposition to the likes of Shakur Stevenson and Vasiliy Lomachenko have been life like, as there was an actual drive from the fighter himself to tackle challenges like these, the success of the primary Garcia struggle means there’ll doubtless be a do-over within the close to future.
Davis, 29, dominated Garcia and completed him with a body-shot in an April 2023 super-fight that generated over $22 million in ticket income at T-Cell Area in Las Vegas, and 1.2 million gross sales on US pay-per-view.
Because the knockout loss — the primary of his profession — Garcia rebounded with a win over Oscar Duarte, earlier than his no contest ruling within the Haney struggle.
For Espinoza, Garcia’s “dominant and entertaining efficiency” over Haney “reinvigorated” the dialog as to why his skills have been so totally different within the Tank struggle.
“Possibly it was the load,” Espinoza informed us, referencing the 136-pound catchweight and 10-pound rehydration clause — one thing Garcia didn’t have competing in opposition to Haney, weighing-in at 143.2 kilos with no rehydration clause regardless of the missed try to make weight.
“Possibly it wasn’t the load, and he simply had an off evening. However let’s do it once more,” Espinoza mentioned, “and I believe that’s only a huge, huge rematch.”
One apparent stumbling block to any struggle involving Tank and Garcia regards drug-testing, and guaranteeing Garcia enters the ring having nothing however adverse check outcomes for performance-enhancing medicine. “That’s one a part of it,” Espinoza informed us. “There’s additionally the load that must be labored out.
“However it was such an enormous success for everyone that I believe that sort of stuff may be labored out.”
The Tank rematch isn’t the one large struggle that presumably awaits Garcia as soon as he’s served his ban, as Bob Santos — the coach for WBC champ Mario Barrios — cited the Californian fighter as a potential future opponent for ‘El Azteca.’
Barrios is linked with an enormous struggle in opposition to legendary boxer Manny Pacquiao — an occasion that might happen as quickly as October or November, as each fighters are seemingly already in settlement to field.
Ought to Barrios win that struggle, his title worth will proceed to skyrocket, Santos informed us.
Once we requested the 2022 Boxing Coach of the Yr whether or not Barrios may kick-start a brand new period at 147 kilos, contemplating Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford are each transferring to tremendous welterweight at 154, he mentioned Barrios will probably be within the combine with all the opposite prime guys at welterweight — together with Garcia.
“There’s little doubt that Ryan Garcia goes to need to go up [in weight],” Santos informed us.
“Clearly, he couldn’t make 140 for the final struggle, and you understand rattling nicely he ain’t making 40 when he comes again after his one-year suspension. And, if you happen to actually take a look at it, they’ve already began the suspension, so he’ll be again in about 9 months.
“So, by the point we exit and struggle Manny, in say October, November, jeez … we’re not too removed from Ryan Garcia being within the combine, and all these varieties of guys. We’re proper there.”
Alan Dawson is World Boxing Information Lead Author, a 2 x Sports activities Journalist of the Yr finalist, and 5 x BWAA awards winner. Comply with Alan @AlanDawsonSport.
