Ryan Garcia Announces Return Fight, Calls Out Jake Paul

Ryan Garcia has officially announced his return to the boxing ring, with a high-profile exhibition fight against Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo scheduled for December 30, 2024, in Japan. This fight marks Garcia’s first time back in the ring since his suspension for testing positive for banned substances. However, it won’t be a sanctioned professional boxing match but rather an exhibition bout that has fans buzzing with anticipation.

The opponent, Rukiya Anpo, is a fighter known for his previous bout against boxing legend Manny Pacquiao in July 2024 at Super RIZIN 3, where the two faced off in a custom rules match. Although Pacquiao is past his prime, Anpo’s aggressive approach toward the Filipino champion caught the attention of Garcia, who now seeks to make a statement of his own.

“I’m looking forward to knocking Anpo out for trying to knock out the legend Manny Pacquiao,” Garcia said in a recent statement. “Manny [Pacquiao] is past his prime, and for him to try to knock him out rubbed me the wrong way. I will knock him out and teach him a lesson of respect.” Garcia’s determination to settle this score reveals his sense of loyalty to Pacquiao, and he is eager to prove his superiority over Anpo.

Garcia, who gained significant attention after his controversial victory over Devin Haney in April 2024, is still serving a one-year suspension for violating anti-doping regulations. The suspension means he will not be eligible for a professional, sanctioned boxing match until April 2025, marking the end of the penalty period. During his time off, Garcia’s fans have seen him embroiled in controversy, particularly regarding his erratic social media behavior and his ongoing attempts to repair his reputation in the boxing world.

The suspension followed Garcia’s dominant performance against Haney, in which he scored three knockdowns during their bout. However, the result was ultimately changed to a no contest after Garcia’s A and B drug test samples were found to contain banned substances. The decision has left a sour note on what would have otherwise been a career-defining victory, and Garcia is working hard to overcome these setbacks in his personal and professional life.

Despite the ban, Garcia has made his plans clear through social media, where he revealed that his next opponent would be Anpo, whom he described as “the guy who fought aging Manny Pac and tried to knock him out.” Garcia has been vocal about the perceived disrespect Anpo showed Pacquiao, and he aims to settle the score by taking the fight to Anpo on his terms. However, the nature of the exhibition bout raises questions about its impact on Garcia’s career, especially in the eyes of boxing purists who value competitive, sanctioned matches over showy exhibitions.

Details of Garcia’s purse for the upcoming fight have not been disclosed, but it is widely believed to be a lucrative deal, potentially in the seven-figure range. The exhibition is scheduled to take place at a catch weight of 153 pounds, a weight class Garcia should be comfortable with, especially after struggling to make the 140-pound limit ahead of his match with Haney. Many fans and analysts speculated that Garcia’s weight-cutting challenges may have played a role in his failed drug test. Some believe Garcia may have resorted to performance-enhancing substances to help him drop the extra pounds in time for the fight, though he has not addressed these claims directly.

Adding to the intrigue surrounding Garcia’s return is his ongoing feud with social media influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul. Garcia has not been shy in calling out Paul, who recently fought the legendary Mike Tyson in a controversial exhibition match on November 15, 2024, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The fight between Paul and Tyson, who is 58 years old, has sparked significant debate over the ethics of such matchups, with many fans and critics questioning whether the bout was an appropriate spectacle for Tyson, a former heavyweight champion. Tyson, who was paid a reported $20 million for the fight, took minimal damage and appeared to benefit from the event financially, despite his age.

Garcia’s callout of Paul, who is known for his brash personality and online antics, may be an attempt to shift public perception of him. Over the past year, Garcia’s reputation has taken a hit due to his controversial actions, particularly on social media. His aggressive stance against Anpo could be seen as an effort to redeem himself in the eyes of boxing fans, while a potential showdown with Paul could provide him with the opportunity to reclaim his position in the sport’s mainstream conversation.

If Garcia were to fight and defeat Paul, it could be a significant turning point for his career. The public’s reaction to Paul’s previous bouts, particularly the Tyson fight, suggests that there is a strong desire for high-profile celebrity boxing matches, even if they blur the lines between true competitive boxing and entertainment. A victory over Paul, who has made a name for himself by taking on older, faded fighters, would likely earn Garcia a great deal of praise and attention from both fans and the media.

However, the nature of these types of fights raises questions about the future of combat sports. Are these celebrity exhibitions damaging to the integrity of boxing and MMA, or are they simply a reflection of a changing landscape in sports entertainment? Fans are increasingly demanding a distinction between true competition and novelty bouts, and it’s unclear whether these events will continue to draw the same level of attention as traditional title fights or world championship events.

While the combat sports industry may need to rethink the categorization of these events, there’s no doubt that they’re immensely profitable, particularly when celebrities and viral personalities are involved. For Garcia, his upcoming exhibition against Anpo and his callout of Jake Paul represent a strategic move in what’s been a tumultuous year for the young fighter. Whether these moves help him regain his place among boxing’s elite remains to be seen.

Ultimately, Garcia’s return to the ring may not only be about proving his physical prowess but also about salvaging his public image and positioning himself for future success in a landscape increasingly dominated by celebrity-driven matches. How the public responds to his efforts, both in the ring and online, will likely determine his next steps in the sport.