Ryan Garcia is currently sidelined due to a suspension after testing positive for a banned substance.
The ruling came after a whirlwind period in the sport for the 26-year-old. He worried fans with his antics during the fight week ahead of facing WBC Super-Lightweight Champion Devin Haney before missing weight by three pounds.
Although Garcia was ineligible to win the title, a deal was made for the fight to go ahead. He upset the odds by dropping the champion three times on his way to a majority decision victory.
It was not long after that the failed tests surfaced. Garcia was banned for one year by the New York State Athletic Commission and saw his win overturned to a no contest.
He recently announced on social media that he was itching to get back in the ring, promising fans to ‘bring the excitement back to boxing.’ That can’t happen until April of 2025, but in the meantime Garcia is plotting the biggest match-ups and he feels a rematch with Gervonta Davis is at the very top of the list in terms of numbers.
“I believe the biggest fight in boxing is Davis vs Garcia 2. Prove me wrong?”
‘Tank’-Garcia was undoubtedly a success. The PBC / Golden Boy co-promotion generated around $22.8 million in ticket sales at the T-Mobile Arena – entering at number five on the list of the highest-earning combat sport gates in Las Vegas history. It sold a reported 1.2 million pay-per-view buys in the US, no mean feat in today’s climate.
Despite there being little question as to how lucrative the fight was, many would warn Garcia off getting in the ring with Davis again. The Baltimore puncher largely dominated, dropping ‘King Ryan’ in the second round before finishing things with a body shot in the seventh.
In the aftermath, Garcia blamed an extreme weight cut and contracted rehydration clause for his performance. He wants to right that wrong in different circumstances.
‘Tank’ has fought just once since then, beating Frank Martin by knockout in June of this year having been elevated to WBA Lightweight World Champion. He is slated for a November return with no opponent announced at the time of writing.
