The last couple of years have indeed been eventful and tumultuous for Ryan García, once one of the sport’s brightest young stars. With his hands like greased lightning, his widespread social media presence, and his heavy knockout record, García’s rise to fame came with applause and controversy respectively. This year of 2024 has been a very pivotal year for this young boxer, from success in the ring to personal issues he has been facing.
The Early Rise of Ryan García
Born on August 8, 1998, in Victorville, California, Ryan García was among the amateur boxing elites in the country in no time. At 17, García turned pro and was recognized for his speed, precision, and ‘KOs that caught most off guard.’ Besides his charisma, his social media appeal, especially on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, helped him garner attention from well beyond the traditional boxing audience.
García’s boxing style
García’s style of boxing is heavily influenced by his speed and timing. Many of his knockouts have come via the left hook. His best win to date came in January 2021 when he stopped Luke Campbell to capture the WBC Interim Lightweight Title in an impressive display that saw him get off the canvas early in the fight to win.
Career Setbacks and a Defining Loss
That does not mean García has not faced any setbacks in his career. In 2023, García was pitted against powerhouse Gervonta Davis in a highly anticipated fight for him and the fans who watch him. Regrettably, the bout would not go in his favor as Davis ultimately knocked García out in the seventh round of the fight. This defeat was seemingly the worst that García could have received, considering he was previously undefeated. Since the defeat, García had been away from active boxing because of his mental health issues. He has been vocal about fighting anxiety and depression and never misses an opportunity to raise awareness about these mental health issues, particularly in sports.
A Comeback Tainted by Controversy
García returned to the ring in December 2023 with a win over Oscar Duarte, both creating and showing signs that he was still a force to be dealt with inside the lightweight division. But 2024 has turned out to be one of the most turbulent years of his life, both in and out of the ring. In April 2024, the Garcia-Devin Haney fight happened, which was said to be one of the biggest fights of the year. García won through a majority decision but soon this victory was engulfed in controversy as García failed to make the pre-fight weigh-in and was, therefore, disqualified from competing for the WBC Super Lightweight Title. But if that wasn’t enough, it was also deemed that García had also shown positive for some sort of banned substance, again questioning the validity of his win even more. The fight was ultimately ruled a no-contest and taken away from García. This definitely put a damper in the reputation García was trying to build up in the sport.
Legal and Personal Troubles
In June 2024, García was in the news again, this time for off-the-ring issues. He was arrested in Beverly Hills on felony vandalism charges after he allegedly caused $15,000 in damages to a hotel room at the Waldorf Astoria. According to reports, law enforcement was called after a driver who dropped García off at the hotel witnessed his erratic behavior. The arrest was only the latest in a line of disturbing incidents for García, who had been acting erratically on social media in the lead-up to the Haney fight.
In addition to this, in July 2024, García faced the possibility of expulsion by the WBC because of certain offensive remarks he made via social media. He was accused of using racial slurs and also derogatory remarks against various communities. He was consequently pulled out from the WBC rankings. Even though WBC tried to reach out to García for help with his mental health issues, he refused their help. This suspension indeed gave him another severe jolt, and this was a low ebb in his relations with the boxing fraternity.
Personal Life and Battles with Mental Health
García’s personal life has also been criticized. In 2024, his ex-wife Andrea Celina accused him of burglary, where he entered her property and destroyed some belongings. These, plus García’s problem with substance abuse and erratic behavior, make it even more difficult for him to create a clear public image. His family has continuously made remarks with concern for him, emphasizing that García has had a long struggle with mental health issues.
Despite these few challenges, García’s family remains very supportive, and there is an effort to be supportive of one another through these troubles. García in the past has been vocal about the stresses of fame and how that has affected his mental health; using his voice to remind others that if they feel similarly strained, reaching out for help is important.
What’s next for Ryan García?
At this point in September 2024, Ryan García’s future as a boxer is really uncertain. If the legal trouble is added to his expulsion from the WBC and the result against Haney overturned, then everything seems to be setting pretty bad omens for his career. But surely, García’s talent within the ring isn’t in question, so many fans will be hoping he can make a comeback both professionally and personally. The boxing world will be watching over the coming months how he specifically responds to setbacks such as these. Whether he is able to suddenly regain his form and rebuild a reputation many currently believe is in tatters remains to be seen, but there’s simply no getting around the fact that Ryan García has already left an indelible mark on the sport. His story is one of both triumph and tribulation, and it will be fascinating to see how this chapter of his life unfolds.
Conclusion
The rise and fall of Ryan García, from a bright prospect to an embattled figure, serves as the cautionary tale about the unrelenting pressures of being in the spotlight and maintaining good mental health. Great inside the ring, his personal struggles have put his career in jeopardy. Enthusiasts and skeptics alike wait for the verdict on whether “King Ry” will regain his throne.
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