Ryan Garcia will return to the ring before serving his one-year ban, taking on Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo in an exhibition fight on December 30.
The 26-year-old took to social media on Monday, announcing his upcoming contest in Japan while also calling out YouTube star Jake Paul.
In doing so, Ryan Garcia added his name to an extensive list of fighters who have since expressed a desire to face ‘The Problem Child’ following his controversial victory over Mike Tyson.
However, the overriding issue attached to Garcia’s return is, of course, the fact that his professional boxing ban does not end until April 20.
Why is Ryan Garcia fighting Rukiya Anpo before his ban officially ends?
In his last outing, Garcia produced a destructive performance to outpoint Devin Haney, flooring the former WBC world super lightweight champion three times.
But then, shortly after his career-best victory, the result was overturned to a no-contest once it emerged that the American had tested positive ostarine, a performance-enhancing substance.
Before long, the New York State Athletic Commission handed Garcia a relatively lenient year-long ban, backdated to when his controversial showdown with Haney took place.
In a more recent development, too, Haney has filed an ongoing lawsuit against his former opponent, alleging battery, fraud and unjust enrichment.
But still, regardless of his punishment, Garcia has been presented with an opportunity to shake off his ring rust before heading into the new year.
The former world title challenger will take on Anpo, who faced boxing legend Manny Pacquiao in an exhibition match earlier this year.
And seemingly, the rules are set to be more or less the same for his clash against Garcia, with neither fighter expected to get their hand raised.
Chris Algieri compares Ryan Garcia with Jake Paul
Since his showdown against Haney, Garcia has become one of the most polarizing figures in boxing.
In that sense, he is not too far removed from Paul, who has been under a heavy amount of criticism since his victory over Tyson.
And so, while expressing his frustration with the fact that Garcia has been permitted to fight in December – albeit in an exhibition – former world champion Chris Algieri has highlighted a similarity between Garcia and Paul.
“[Garcia] and Jake Paul, to me, are kind of the same person at this point,” Algieri said on ProBox TV.
“Jake Paul is a YouTube personality-turned boxer; Ryan’s a boxer-turned YouTube personality.
“[Garcia] does a great job at marketing himself into these situations. Him staying busy – listen, I get it – he can, so he does.
“This is boxing – it’s the Wild West. The New York [State] Athletic Commission can try and come at this, [but] I don’t think they’ll really have any grounds.”