Garcia served a one-year suspension following his upset win over Devin Haney and asked UFC boss White to join the MMA promotion.
Ryan Garcia has begged UFC boss Dana White for a contract after serving a one-year boxing ban.
The boxer tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine both before and after his upset win over Devin Haney in April. Garcia was suspended by the New York State Athletic Commission and fined $1.1 million (£870,000) from his fight money. The state also fined Garcia the maximum amount of $10,000 (£7,900).
Garcia responded to the news of his suspension by tweeting, “I'm going to UFC. Dana White, I want 50gs. For real, Dana.” The 25-year-old maintained his innocence, adding, “I truly hope boxing does well without me. I would have fought anyone and would have fought anyone. They turned their back on me. I am innocent. I don't care what people say. I will stand at gunpoint and say I did not take PEDs.”
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The loss to Garcia marked Haney's first professional career defeat, but the result was changed to a no contest due to Garcia's suspension, restoring Haney's undefeated record. Haney responded to the news by thanking the New York Commission and stating that he plans to take a year off from boxing.
Team Garcia released a statement about the boxer's suspension, saying: “Ryan Garcia was the victim of billions, even trillions, of drug contamination per gram that gave him no advantage in the ring. Ryan has worked through this matter with his legal team and is steadfast in his truth. He never knowingly took banned substances. It is simply not in his nature.”
“Ryan has voluntarily submitted to random testing outside of competitive periods for many years with no known issues. He has maintained an impeccably clean record throughout his career and has greatly elevated and transcended the sport of boxing, earning the respect and admiration of millions of fans around the world.”
Garcia was heavily outnumbered in his bout against Haney, but knocked his rival down three times to win by decision. Garcia was expected to claim Haney's WBC lightweight world title with the win, but was three pounds underweight and therefore ineligible for the belt.
