Ryan Garcia will have surgery to fix the injury that forced him off the Rizin card on New Year’s Eve, but guarantees he will still box Rukiya Anpo in 2025.
The Japanese promotion aired a statement from the decorated boxer during Rizin Decade on Dec. 31, hours after Anpo defeated replacement Sina Karimian via decision, in which Garcia said he will compete in Japan next year.
“I’m coming on here to say I’m sorry, sorry that I had to postpone this fight,” Garcia said. “I suffered a hand injury in training camp to my right wrist right here, where after talking to doctors, I’m going to need surgery. And I had to take some time off the heal. I wanna thank Fanmio and Rizin for the opportunity, and I’m still excited to fight in Japan soon. And this will all resume right after I heal up in 2025.
“So make no mistake, I am coming back to finish what we started with Anpo and he will eat his words, I guarantee it. Just need to take some time off but when I come back there will be a bang in Japan.”
Garcia is currently serving a one-year suspension after failing a drug test that had his victory over Devin Haney overturned. Anpo won a decision Tuesday night in Japan, and was involved in a mid-fight melee with his opponent that even had punches hit on the referee (watch here).
