Ryan Garcia possesses the recognition, but is he capable of securing a boxing world championship?
AT 27 YEARS of age, Ryan Garcia possesses two of the three attributes that many fighters his age would strive for: wealth and influence.
With more than 12.5 million followers on Instagram, he ranks among the most followed American boxers on the platform, trailing only Jake Paul (28.8 million), Floyd Mayweather (29.2 million), and Mike Tyson (33.9 million). Garcia has demonstrated his drawing power, as evidenced by his 2023 knockout defeat to Gervonta “Tank” Davis, which produced the sixth-largest gate for a U.S. boxing event at $22.8 million and reportedly garnered over 1.2 million pay-per-view purchases.
His status as a celebrity has opened the door to numerous financial opportunities, including lucrative endorsements and modeling gigs. However, the one accolade that has eluded him throughout his decade-long professional journey is a world championship.
Consequently, the third aspect Garcia continues to pursue is respect.
“I have taken a different path and approached my career in an unconventional way,” Garcia shared with ESPN prior to his fight against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on Saturday. “I am now focused on capturing as many world titles as possible to complete the narrative of my career. This is the final piece of that puzzle. Being a world champion signifies that you are the best in the world, and achieving that is what I was destined to do.”
There was a period when Garcia indicated he might retire from boxing by the age of 26 to explore other ventures, but he has since come to understand that hurrying toward the end goal hindered his growth as a boxer. He recognized the need to slow down, refocus on the sport he cherishes, and take the necessary time to prepare adequately, with his father resuming the role of his primary trainer.
“I thought I could rush through boxing and accomplish everything I wanted by a certain age,” Garcia reflected. “Clearly, I was mistaken, but everything has happened quickly for me throughout my life. I sought a megafight and got one against Gervonta Davis. My goal was to face the best fighters in the world and do it swiftly, but circumstances change, and I now realize that this is a marathon, not a sprint.”
Since Garcia helped fill the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with 20,842 fans, his career has faced stagnation. He has struggled in his most lucrative bouts, posting a record of 1-1 with one no-contest since December 2023. He received a yearlong suspension due to positive PED tests in April 2024 and has made several controversial choices outside the ring that have led many to question his commitment to becoming one of the top fighters globally.
“He has immense potential, but he is inconsistent with his training, discipline, coaching changes, and personal issues,” former world champion turned analyst Sergio Mora told ESPN. “That’s when you start to realize, ‘Yeah, we really don’t have that world champion who genuinely wants to become a world champion.’
When fully focused, he has shown remarkable physical abilities, exceptional hand speed, and powerful left hooks capable of defeating any opponent. However, a boxer can only rely on potential for so long.
“I hear the criticisms,” Garcia acknowledged. “People say I lack the skills or ability, but I’ve been a winner my entire life. I am not a loser. I’ve secured 15 national titles as an amateur, turned professional, and defeated many strong opponents. I lost to Gervonta Davis and had an off night against [Rolando] Rolly Romero. So what?”
There is one exclusive group that Garcia wishes to avoid: the most prominent names in boxing who have never held a world championship. This group includes Andre Dirrell, Rocky Juarez, Sam Langford, David Tua, Herol Graham, Andrew Golota, and Earnie Shavers. The distinction for Garcia is that none of these boxers attracted the mainstream attention he has.
“I believe he’s the biggest non-champion in boxing,” former two-division champion Zab Judah stated. “He has a larger following than many world champions, but he has yet to cross the threshold into greatness because you cannot be remembered as one of the greats without becoming a world champion. He has somehow managed to avoid being a champion while enjoying the benefits associated with champion status and finances.
“He has everything but the accolades.”
GARCIA’S CAREER BEGAN to unravel leading up to his April 20, 2024, clash with his longtime rival, then-WBC junior welterweight champion Devin Haney. His erratic behavior before the fight initially appeared to be a tactic to lower Haney’s guard, but Garcia ultimately squandered his chance to win the title before the bout began by weighing in 3.2 pounds over the limit, disqualifying him from championship eligibility. The fight proceeded as planned, and Garcia—who was a significant underdog—managed to knock down the undefeated Haney three times, resulting in a surprising majority decision victory.
However, Garcia’s positive momentum was shattered two weeks later when he was informed of a positive test for the banned substance Ostarine, the day before and the day of his fight with Haney. The fight result was changed to a no contest, and the New York State Athletic Commission imposed a yearlong suspension. Garcia continues to assert his innocence, but his reputation has suffered significant damage.
“I was a huge fan of Ryan Garcia, and I still like him, but I don’t respect individuals who use banned substances to win fights,” Judah remarked. “A fighter must compete clean, regardless of the challenges in making weight or preparing. I don’t care how it entered his system; it was present. I was taken aback by his tactics [regarding the failed drug test and his defense]. I still like the kid and wish him well, but that definitely affected my perception of him.”
While serving his suspension, Garcia was arrested in June 2024 and subsequently charged with one misdemeanor count of vandalism for allegedly causing approximately $15,000 in damage to a Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills hotel room. The charge was dismissed after Garcia compensated the hotel.
A month following his arrest, Garcia was expelled from the WBC in July 2024 after repeatedly using racial slurs against Black individuals and making derogatory comments about Muslims during a social media livestream. Garcia issued an apology the day after his expulsion and stated he was “going to rehab,” while his family released a statement highlighting Garcia’s “ongoing struggle with mental health over the years” and a commitment to “ensuring and encouraging that he receives the necessary help.”
Garcia entered his return from suspension against Romero at New York’s Times Square as a significant betting favorite last May. He delivered a disappointing performance against Romero, losing after being knocked down early. The fight saw Garcia and Romero combine for one of the lowest punch outputs in CompuBox history for a 12-round bout, landing a total of 123 punches out of 490 thrown.
Unlike the failed drug test, Garcia accepted full responsibility for his lackluster performance.
“During that year off, I lost focus and didn’t treat my body well,” Garcia admitted. “I thought I could get in shape two months before the fight, but that approach failed. My body was rejecting everything due to how I had treated it. I couldn’t shed the 30 pounds I gained, struggled to train effectively, and felt genuinely disinterested because I realized that no matter what, my body couldn’t recover from that year of neglect.
“The outcome of my performance reflected that, and it was entirely my fault.”
The defeat cost Garcia a lucrative rematch with Haney, but he still has a title opportunity on Saturday against Barrios. Although Garcia has yet to win a fight at 147 pounds and his last victory was over two years ago at a catchweight of 143 pounds against Oscar Duarte, who had never fought above 135 pounds, his ongoing popularity and charisma have allowed him to bypass the line for a world title shot.
“This illustrates that with good representation, a large following, and being an exciting fighter, you can find yourself in these situations,” Mora noted. “The issue is that he hasn’t truly earned these chances. His popularity surpasses his achievements.”
Garcia acknowledges this perspective but also emphasizes the necessity of capitalizing on the opportunities that arise, regardless of how they come, as they may not last forever.
“I did a lot of reflecting after losing to Rolly and made significant lifestyle changes,” Garcia stated, revealing that he began preparing for this fight nearly seven months ago by training regularly, abstaining from alcohol, and following a diet. “Each day felt like, ‘Oh s—, I’m a fighter again!’ My mindset was clear; I could train three times a day, and my punches regained their snap. My body and mind experienced a breakthrough. It feels great to be in peak condition. I have much to prove in this fight, and it feels good to have my back against the wall because that’s when I perform my best.”
ALTHOUGH HE IS the WBC champion, Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs) has not secured a victory since May 2024. His last two outings resulted in contentious draws against Abel Ramos and Manny Pacquiao, respectively, allowing him to maintain his title but raising doubts about his championship caliber. Garcia has indicated that this matchup will feature two fighters with something to prove, a sentiment that the seasoned Barrios welcomes.
“I don’t think he understands what it means to be in a battle,” Barrios remarked. “When challenges arise, he hasn’t been able to adapt and respond. Retaining my title with a draw is never the type of victory I aspire to achieve. I aim to make him uncomfortable, exploit all his weaknesses, and deliver an outstanding performance against one of boxing’s biggest names.”
In preparation for his bout with Garcia, Barrios has enlisted Joe Goossen, one of Garcia’s former trainers. This choice has upset Garcia, who labeled Goossen a “traitor” at a January press conference for the fight and vowed to make him pay.
“It seemed like he was talking all that to psych himself out and motivate himself,” Barrios commented. “He claims he is ready and more dangerous than ever, but he must address all those questions on fight night.”
Goossen, who has known Garcia since his teenage years, is well-acquainted with this iteration of the fighter.
“I anticipated this from him,” Goossen stated, revealing that Garcia called him before the press conference to warn him about what to expect. “He can’t intimidate me. He knows that. However, I believe he was also trying to promote the fight. Some of it was heartfelt, but some of it wasn’t.”
Garcia has returned to training with the man who introduced him to boxing at the age of nine, his father. Henry Garcia was in Ryan’s corner throughout his amateur career and for his first 13 professional bouts. As Ryan’s career advanced, he sought guidance from various trainers, including Goossen, Derrick James, and Eddy Reynoso. However, those arrangements were short-lived.
“I just felt like my dad was the right person to take charge of my career at this point,” Garcia explained. “We have learned from numerous trainers, all of whom are excellent in their own right, but having my dad there feels like home.”
Garcia has never lost a professional fight with his father as his head trainer and believes this trend will continue against Barrios. Garcia, who was reinstated to the WBC in November, understands the stakes when he faces Barrios on Saturday. A victory will demonstrate that he is more than just his social media presence and possesses the capability to become a world champion, while a defeat would validate the critics who assert that Garcia is better suited for influencer boxing than a successful professional career.
“Everything that has brought me to this point has been a learning experience,” Garcia remarked. “It took time for me to remain grounded, and I have been humbled throughout the journey. However, I believe the sky is still the limit for me. You will witness what a dedicated fighter can achieve on February 21. I am eager to showcase my level.”
Hopefully, that level is what fans have been eagerly anticipating.
