Boxing villain Ryan Garcia faces surgery and announces “time off” to heal

Boxing villain Ryan Garcia was scheduled to take on Japanese kickboxing champion Rukiya Anpo as part of the RIZIN New Year’s Eve martial arts extravaganza in Tokyo, Japan. Then there was a nagging wrist injury that delayed the fight.

Garcia was given airtime during the “Decade” broadcast to address his fans.

“I come here to say that I am very sorry that I had to postpone this fight,” Garcia said. “I sustained a hand injury on my right wrist during the training camp, where I have to undergo surgery after consulting with the doctors. And I needed to take a break from healing. I would like to thank Fanmio and Rizin for the opportunity.”

“I’m still looking forward to fighting in Japan soon,” Garcia continued. “And all of this will continue right after my recovery in 2025. So make no mistake, I’m coming back to finish what we started with Anpo and he’ll eat his words, I guarantee it. I just have to take some time off, but when I come back there will be a bang in Japan.”

Mystic De La Hoya predicted that this fight would not happen in 2024.

The 26-year-old Garcia is coming off his disastrous fight against Devin Haney in April, which he initially won but then settled for a no contest after failing his post-fight drug test. This is on top of all the other shenanigans that took place before the competition.

Anpo, 29, was later rebooked against K-1 brawler Sina Karimian (and the referee).