Ryan Garcia has confirmed his return to the ring, albeit for an exhibition bout.
Garcia is set to return with an exhibition with Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo in Tokyo, and that’s despite the fact he is currently serving a suspension over illegal substance use.
Back in June, Garcia was issued a one-year retroactive suspension by the New York State Athletic Commission over testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug ostarine. The positive test emerged ahead of his fight with Devin Haney.
Garcia won the fight by unanimous decision, but the drug test later rendered it a no-contest.
The fighter will remain suspended until next summer, but in the meantime, he will test his abilities against Anpo with full boxing rules at a 153lbs catchweight over eight two-minute rounds
“I’m looking forward to knocking Anpo out for disrespecting Manny Pacquiao,” Garcia said, referencing Anpo’s July exhibition against Pacquiao. “I’ll teach him a lesson in respect.”
Fighting words from Anpo
Anpo is a former kickboxing world champion, and he is known as ‘Demolition Man’, albeit in kickboxing rather than straight up boxing.
Hitting back at Garcia, he said: “I surpass Ryan in size, speed, and power. If he treats this like a party, I’ll give him a beatdown and show America who the real bad boy is.”
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