BEVERLY HILLS, California – Suspended star Ryan Garcia has a return date – solely, it’s not for an expert battle.
Garcia will tackle Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo on December 30 in Tokyo in an eight-round exhibition at two minutes a spherical and a 153lbs catchweight.
As soon as the spectacle is over, Garcia, 24-1 (20 KOs), will flip the web page for a spring return after his one-year suspension is served on April 20. Following his battle in opposition to Devin Haney this 12 months, Garcia examined constructive for the performance-enhancing drug ostarine. Garcia’s majority choice victory was overturned to a no contest because of the mishap, and the 29-year-old was suspended for a 12 months.
Garcia is already eyeing a handful of opponents as soon as he’s eligible to return.
“I need the large fights in opposition to anyone that’s going to carry a giant occasion,” Garcia instructed BoxingScene and different media on Tuesday after his press convention saying the exhibition in opposition to Anpo.
“Gervonta Davis, Teofimo Lopez, Jose Valenzuela. All of these choices appear good to me and intrigue me. I do not battle anymore for these in-between fights, but when I’ve to and my crew feels that’s the strategy to go, then I’ll try this, too. I really feel that on the proper battle, I can go right down to 140lbs. One-forty to 147, that is form of what I’m . One-fifty-four, no, not but. That is not going to be my supreme weight class.”
Garcia additionally insisted he wished to face Haney in a rematch to settle the rating.
“Run it again the identical method, only a larger weight class,” mentioned Garcia. “You must ask him about that.”
Shortly after the press convention, Garcia’s promoter, Golden Boy, introduced that the exhibition in opposition to Anpo couldn’t occur with out its permission.
The assertion learn: “Golden Boy Promotions has unique rights to Ryan Garcia’s fights. The organizers of this occasion [Garcia vs Anpo] have acknowledged as such and have agreed in writing that our sign-off is required for this occasion to happen. As no such sign-off has been given, as of right this moment there isn’t any occasion with Ryan Garcia.”
Manouk Akopyan is a sports activities journalist, author and broadcast reporter whose work has appeared on ESPN, Fox Sports activities, USA Immediately, The Guardian, Newsweek, Males’s Well being, NFL.com, Los Angeles Occasions, Philadelphia Inquirer, Ring Journal and extra. He has been writing for BoxingScene since 2018. Manouk is a member of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America and the MMA Journalists Affiliation. He will be reached on X (previously Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube, via electronic mail at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or by way of www.ManoukAkopyan.com.
