Ryan Garcia may be suspended from boxing until next spring, but that apparently won’t stop him from entering the ring in Japan before the end of this year.
Boxing’s bad boy announced on Monday, via X, that he will compete in an exhibition bout in Japan on Monday, Dec. 30 at the traditional New Year’s event promoted by RIZIN.
Garcia’s opponent will be Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo (0-0 boxing, 27-8-1, 14 KO’s kickboxing) according to the promotional video that Garcia included with his social media post.
The fight will be distributed as an internet pay-per-view on Fanmio.
Garcia is serving a one-year suspension handed down to him by the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) in June as a result of testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug ostarine after his fight against Devin Haney.
As a result of the failed drug test, Garcia was handed down the suspension that will be up on April 20, 2025, provided that he return a urine sample that does not test positive for any banned substance.
Garcia’s decision win was overturned to a no-contest following the failed drug test, and the fighter forfeited his purse for the bout with Haney.
At this time, it is not clear whether or not Garcia’s participation in an exhibition bout in Japan, where there is no athletic commission, will be seen by the NYSAC as a violation of the governing body’s suspension of the fighter.
If the NYSAC does, in fact, frown upon this exhibition bout, Garcia could potentially face a more severe punishment.
