Things are off to a heated start between Ryan Garcia and Rukiya Anpo.
Garcia and Anpo are set to face each other in an exhibition showdown at RIZIN’s Decade event on Dec. 30, and on Tuesday, the first press conference for the event took place in Los Angeles. And while Garcia press conferences often have a potential to turn wild, it was Anpo who brought an aggressive energy to the proceedings.
After initial statements to open the press conference, Anpo took to the podium with a pre-written speech that the Japanese kickboxer delivered to Garcia before crumbling it up and throwing it at the former WBC interim lightweight champion.
“We all know Ryan Garcia’s issues,” Anpo said. “Missing weight, alcohol, ... lack of professionalism, no sportsmanship, no respect. Yet he dares to call himself ‘King.’ On fight day I’ll show him the true code of bushido. We fight for honor and legacy. I’ll bring the real Japanese samurai spirit and show him exactly where he belongs.
“F*ck you! F*ck you!”
Anpo’s aggression seem to catch Garcia off guard, who admitted that he was not taking this event too seriously.
“It’s waking me up,” Garcia said. “I just kind of looked to this like, it’s going to be a little exhibition, I’m going to enjoy the ride, enjoy the festivities in Japan, it’s New Year’s, but now it’s kind of waking the dragon up. It’s making me a little excited to put a whooping on this dude. I’m looking to knock hi out now. Before, I thought it was going to be a relaxing, family event. It’s not anymore.”
Garcia and Anpo continued to trade words back-and-forth as the press conference continued with both men making threats to one another before ultimately facing off for the first time. And given the tenor of the presser up until then, it’s no surprise that things got a little heated during the face off, with Garcia pretending to hit Anpo, and Anpo responding with a shove of his own.
Rukiya Anpo got in Ryan Garcia's face during the first #RIZIN_DECADE press conference in LA pic.twitter.com/4myxbqh2l1
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) November 26, 2024
A former interim WBC lightweight champion, 26-year-old Garcia is one of the most popular boxers competing in the sport today, but has had as many outside the ring troubles as successes lately. Most recently he won a majority decision victory over Devin Haney back in April that was later overturned to a No-Contest after Garcia tested positive for Ostarine. Garcia is currently serving a one-year suspension for the failure.
The 29-year-old Anpo is a former K-1 champion who most recently had an impressive performance against Manny Pacquiao in a three-round exhibition boxing match back in July.
You can check out the tense staredown above.
