By Adam Baskin: Ryan Garcia will return inside the ring in November in his first proper fight at 140 against a real light welterweight, provided he’s cleared up his promotional issues with Golden Boy Promotions by then.
Ryan should get some experience in the division and climb up the ranks like fighters from the past before challenging for a world title. It doesn’t look like Ryan is interested in doing that.
Despite coming off a knockout loss and having zero experience against light welterweights, Ryan (23-1, 19 KOs) wants an immediate world title shot against WBA 140-lb champion Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero.
In other words, Ryan doesn’t want to work his way into a title shot like ordinary fighters. He wants it to be given to him, which, if he gets his way, proves that boxing is more about show business and less about sports in this era.
Unsurprisingly, Rolly, a fighter who lucked out with a premature stoppage in a fight he was losing against 40-year-old Ismael Barroso last May, is all for the idea of facing Ryaan Garcia in his first title defense. The WBA, however, has ordered Rolly to defend against his mandatory Ohara Davies.
If the World Boxing Association doesn’t let Ryan jump in front of Ohara, he should fight one of these contenders to get some experience at 140 before fighting for a world title:
– Brandun Lee
– Jose Zepeda
– Gary Antuanne Russell
– Richardson Hitchins
– Arnold Barboza Jr
– Steve Spark
– Jose Ramirez
– Liam Paro
– Shohjahon Ergashev
With @RyanGarcia officially moving up to junior welterweight, who should he fight when he returns to the ring? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/bWZaQjBMOs
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) July 27, 2023
“We are suing him to honor his contract. That’s basically. That’s what I’m saying about these kids now. It’s like they don’t really understand contracts and this and that, and it’s like we have a solid contract that you just have to honor, that’s it,” said Oscar De La Hoya to the Breakfast Club 105.1 FM about Ryan Garcia.
“I sued you just to let you know that you have to honor your contract. I didn’t sue you for anything else. I just sued you just to honor your contract.
“No, no, not at all. Just honor your deal,” said De LaHoya when asked if he was suing Ryan to get extra money. “I like Ryan, and I took him under my wing and everything, and then he grew to this, a different level. He has his own people and this and that.
“It hurts because you take a kid like Ryan, and you want to mentor him, and you want to teach him the ropes, and then this happens,” said De La Hoya. “I think you can forgive and forget.”
