Less than two months after Ryan Garcia stunned the boxing world by defeating WBC super lightweight champion Devin Haney by majority decision, the controversial boxer said he was “officially retired” in a series of posts on X.
“I still train but I'm injured and I'm sick of everyone,” Garcia wrote in one post. “What makes me sad is I'm a great boxer, I entertain people and I knock people out. I love boxing so much so I'm sad.” In a second post, he said he was “officially retired.”
I am officially retired
— Ryan Garcia (@RyanGarcia) June 19, 2024
Garcia's announcement, whether it will be permanent or not, comes just weeks after he was arrested in Beverly Hills on felony criminal damage charges after the hotel accused him of vandalism. Police were called to the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills for a call of an “intoxicated individual.” Garcia's lawyer, Darin Chavez, later told ESPN that Garcia was “distressed by the devastating news regarding his mother's health.”
Before announcing his retirement on Wednesday, Garcia spoke at The X about the string of challenges he's faced in recent months, including testing positive for the PED ostarine ahead of his upset win over Haney.
“My mother has cancer. I am being sued. My supplements were tainted. I am getting divorced,” Garcia posted. “I have been constantly called names on the internet for years. Devin is asking to strip me of my wins. I am under attack in every way. I still love God. He is everything.”
Wednesday's announcement could be seen as a negotiating tactic for future bouts, including a rematch with Haney, but it also comes after months of concerning behavior and erratic behaviour from Garcia.
In the months prior to his fight with Haney, Garcia had claimed he'd been abducted by the Illuminati, accused Logan Paul of worshiping the devil, made accusations about Haney's father, said he was under spiritual attack, said he had proof of the existence of aliens, called Elon Musk the Antichrist, and made a host of other worrying claims and allegations online and during podcast appearances.
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Ryan Garcia stuns the boxing world, defeats Devin Haney
Garcia also announced the birth of his second child and his divorce from his wife on the same day in January. In March, Garcia accused Haney of using banned substances, said he would bite Haney's ear off, and later tweeted that he was “going to kill the devil Haney.”
Just before the fight, Garcia had weighed in at 3.2 pounds over the agreed-upon weight limit of 140 pounds, making him ineligible for Haney's super lightweight title.
“Oh man, do you really think I'm crazy?” Garcia yelled after his win in April.
Earlier on Wednesday, Garcia poked fun at a recent post by Haney about a rematch in two years, with Haney saying, “I can come back in two years when Ryan's suspension is over and we can fight again.” Garcia has not been officially suspended by the New York State Athletic Commission.
2 years later…SpongeBob's voice pic.twitter.com/adGotfNA1n
— Ryan Garcia (@RyanGarcia) June 19, 2024
“Boxing will be fine without me, but it's a shame because I enjoyed the fight,” Garcia said. “I enjoyed hitting people.”
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(Photo: Chris Esqueda/Golden Boy/Getty Images)
