BOXING fans were left absolutely gobsmacked after Ryan Garcia announced his ring return – despite being SUSPENDED from competition.
The former interim WBC lightweight champion is currently serving a one-year ban for a failed drug test ahead of his No Contest with Devin Haney in April, which he initially won via decision.
But the 26-year-old has announced he’ll be back in the ring on December 30 for an exhibition bout in Tokyo.
‘King’ is set to take on Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo, who locked horns with boxing legend Manny Pacquiao in July.
Announcing the fight on social media, he wrote: “Super excited to announce I’m on my way to Tokyo.
“Monday, December 30, 2024. This man tried to knock out Pac in an exhibition!!!
“Rubbed me the wrong way now ima have to teach Anpo a lesson!!!
“Let’s go!!! Tokyo here I come.”
Fight fans were gobsmacked by the announcement from Garcia, who doesn’t need to be licensed in order to take part in an exhibition.
One commented: “Is this real?”
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RYAN GARCIA wore a crown worth $1million for his ring walk before fighting Devin Haney.
The American boxer’s head gear caught the eye of boxing fans before and after his shock victory.
The 25-year-old headed to the ring draped in a white robe as he wore a diamond encrusted crown.
Holding 1kg of gold and over 400 carats of diamonds the crown was made by Texas-based jeweller The Ice Champ.
Garcia’s gown was also made up of 15,000 diamonds and took 10 days to create.
He also told TMZ before the bout: “He was like ‘let’s create something where the champ of the boxing world and the champ of the jewellery world connect and make something unique. We created a unique crown.”
Read more about Ryan Garcia.
Another said: “No way.”
And another said: “This is wild.
One remarked: “Being banned and still getting a fight before Devin is crazy work.”
Another chimed in: “Is this a joke?”
Garcia’s period of ineligibility was backdated to April 20, meaning he’ll be free to return to competitive action from April 20, 2025 onwards.
He was slapped with a suspension after testing positive for the banned substance Ostarine, which he vehemently denied intentionally taking.
The New York State Athletic Commission also ordered him to forfeit £950,000 of his purse and pay a £7,900 fine.
Garcia said of the ban on X: “I was already retired so I’ll just come back out of retirement for a year.”
He added: “I never cheated.”
