RYAN Garcia has abruptly announced his retirement from boxing.
The 25-year-old former WBC Interim Lightweight Champion made the announcement in a series of tweets on Wednesday.
“I’m officially retired,” Garcia wrote, three hours after saying, “I just want to drop my meme coin and runaway and love everyone from afar.”
The American was clearly furious as he awaited a decision from the New York State Athletic Commission regarding a potential ban.
This comes in the wake of two positive drug tests in May from samples taken the day prior and the day of his latest win against Devin Haney.
“Mom has cancer, I’m being sued, My supplements were tainted, Going [through] a divorce, Always getting s**t talked on the internet, For years Devin asking for my victory to be taken away, I’m getting hit with everything, I still love God, He is everything,” Garcia tweeted on Wednesday.
Garcia later added that “Boxing will be alright without me,” before admitting, “But still sucks I was fun in the game…And it was fun to punch people.”
Garcia’s majority decision win against Haney in late April has long been shrouded in controversy after two supplements Garcia had taken reportedly “showed the presence of the banned substance Ostarine,” according to the Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory, via ESPN.
Later, Garcia’s B-sample was also found to contain ostarine, ESPN reported.
Throughout the ordeal, Garcia has repeatedly and vehemently denied taking the substance.
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“This confirms what we have consistently maintained: Ryan was a victim of supplement contamination and has never intentionally used any banned or performance-enhancing substances,” his attorneys said in a statement, via USA Today.
“Any claims to the contrary, questioning Ryan’s integrity as a clean fighter, are unequivocally false and defamatory.”
It was reported on Tuesday that Garcia should find out this week whether or not he will be banned by the NYSAC, as per Boxing Scene’s Lance Pugmire.
Earlier that day, Haney also took to X, formerly known as Twitter, where he teased a future fight against Garcia and suggested a belief that his opponent would be suspended.
“Ima take some time.. spend some of my money.. travel the world & I’ll [be] back in two years after Ryan suspension & we can fight again,” he wrote.
“Throughout his career, Ryan has voluntarily submitted to numerous tests, all of which have returned negative results, underscoring his commitment to fair and clean competition,” his attorneys said.
“Additionally, multiple negative tests leading up to his fight against Haney further affirm his clean record.
“The ultra-low levels of Ostarine detected in his samples, in the billionth of a gram range, along with his clean hair sample proves contamination rather than intentional ingestion.
“The recent test results reiterate this.”
Should Garcia’s decision to retire prove to be final, he already appears to have his eyes on a future career change.
“Y’all may catch me out and about but as far as boxing I don’t know,” he tweeted.
“There is so much corruption I’m over it…I may do acting or singing…I’ll still be training but I’m hurt and done with it and everyone.”
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Since turning pro in 2016, Garcia has gone 25-1.
His sole loss came in April 2023 when he fell to Gervonta Davis via knockout.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
