Ryan Garcia has once again found himself in trouble at the venue where he normally holds his boxing press conferences, this time leading to an arrest.
Garcia was reportedly arrested Saturday afternoon at the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills on suspicion of felony criminal damage to property.
TMZ Sports posted a video showing a shirtless Garcia, 25, being handcuffed and taken into custody, and the news agency quoted a law enforcement source as saying the boxer was arrested for allegedly damaging property in a hotel room and hallway.
TMZ footage showed Garcia's head was covered with a helmet.
Garcia's manager, Guadalupe Valencia, told Boxing Scene on Saturday night that they are preparing a news release following the arrest and that they “cannot confirm at this time” whether all of the details in TMZ's report are accurate.
“I don't have all the information yet,” Valencia wrote in a text message to BoxingScene.
Garcia held a press conference next to the Waldorf Astoria to announce his 2023 fight with Gervonta Davis.
The 25-year-old Garcia (25-1, 20 KOs) has had a turbulent year, with consistently erratic action leading up to his stunning three-round knockout majority decision victory over then-unbeaten WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney on April 20 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
However, his efforts were for naught when Garcia was more than three pounds over the 140-pound limit for the bout, was stripped of his belt, and tested positive twice for the banned performance-enhancing substance ostarine in pre-fight drug tests, with his B sample coming back positive.
The New York State Athletic Commission will decide whether to suspend and fine Garcia and could also have Garcia's victory declared a no contest or deemed a loss by disqualification, as Haney's lawyers have requested, citing a “mockery” of boxing rules.
Garcia has said on social media that she was heartbroken over her mother's recent breast cancer diagnosis, and TMZ reported that police responded to a call from “a member of Ryan's family” and checked on Garcia at the hotel on Wednesday.
Earlier Saturday morning, Garcia criticized promoters Golden Boy and streaming partner DAZN for not paying him his full salary for the Haney fight, a claim that Haney seemed to back up in his X post.
TMZ reported that Garcia “appeared to be under the influence of drugs” but complied with police commands without hesitation.
BoxingScene will have more information on Garcia's arrest as details become available.
