Ryan Garcia is currently spending his time on the sidelines after being served a one-year suspension by the NYSAC due to the consumption of the banned substance Ostarine ahead of the Devin Haney fight. But, Garcia isn’t the one to just idly sit by while he serves his suspension. By the look of it, he is looking for prospective opponents for his return to the boxing ring next year.

Garcia was recently part of an impromptu video chat on Instagram with the current WBA super lightweight champion Jose Valenzuela. Amidst fun-filled banter, Garcia and El Rayo got into a verbal agreement to fight each other next year once Ryan Garcia’s suspension officially ends. Both agreed, that the fight should be at 145 lbs catchweight.

It makes sense because Garcia had stated earlier that he would not fight at lightweight or super lightweight again as he struggles to make the weight. Both fighters also agreed that the fight between them had the potential to be a PPV blockbuster. “I think that we’re both very marketable fighters…..Two underdogs come and fight each other, I think that would be a big event,” Garcia told Valenzuela. In response to Ryan Garcia’s offer to fight him, Valenzuela laid down the conditions for the bout — “I will do 145.”

Thereafter, both fighters proceeded to take potshots at each other. The Victorville native said that he is yet to be defeated by someone who has been trained by veteran coach Robert Garcia. Notably, the 25-year-old Mexican-born southpaw is currently being trained by Robert Garcia after having previously worked with Jose Benavidez Sr. Robert Garcia was instrumental in Valenzuela’s stunning upset victory over Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz last month.

“I’ve beaten everybody from Robert Garcia’s gym that I’ve ever fought. I’mma be real with you. In the amateurs. [I] have not fought one pro from Robert Garcia’s gym. I love Robert, don’t get me wrong, but I beat every single one of his fighters. I’ve spanked every single one in the gym. He knows it. And if y’all want, I’m gonna show Robert Garcia who the real Garcia is,” the 26-year-old fighter boasted.

In response, Jose Valenzuela stated that the left hook is Ryan Garcia’s only weapon, and he has a great right hand himself that will help him finish the job if they ever meet in the ring. Garcia quickly retorted,

“My punch goes crazy. I ain’t gonna lie. You can say all have is left hook, but if it still lands, it’s gonna be a problem.”

The WBA super-lightweight champion immediately hit back with a zinger —

“Like the one Luke Campbell hit you with. I’m real good at throwing though like that.” For those unversed, Luke Campbell knocked Garcia down for the first time in his professional career, with a looping left hook when they met in the ring in January 2021.

Apart from the some light-hearted trash-talking, there were pleasantries as well. Specifically, Garcia lauded ‘The Lightning,’ for his performance against Pitbull which he won via a split decision, capturing the WBA super-lightweight belt in the process. Furthermore, ‘KingRy’ also stated that he respected his

“grind” in the professional boxing circuit.

However, there’s a twist. Although Garcia and Valenzuela planned their fight next year, Garcia may have to wait a while more, as Jose Valenzuela intends to face another opponent first.

A rematch on the cards?

On its X handle, Fight Hook News reported that Valenzuela is not returning to the ring till next year. Reportedly, he wants to take the rest of the year off to spend time with his family. However, the first thing he would want to do following his return to the squared circle is a rematch with Pitbull Cruz.

“I would love to fight Cruz again. Won that fight. There was no doubt I won that fight. Cruz is a tough guy. He and his dad felt that they got robbed. There is a little bit of arrogance to him. I stuck to our game plan, and it worked out. I know going into that fight I had doubters,” Valenzuela told Ring Magazine.

The win against Isaac Cruz proved to be a game-changer for the Sinaloa-born fighter. It has opened up a lot of opportunities for the 25-year-old fighter to bag big-money fights. There were rumors about him fighting Gervonta Davis provided ‘Tank’ jumped up to 140. But his priorities seem to have changed with Isaac Cruz and Ryan Garcia currently in his crosshairs.

As things stand, it might be that Ryan Garcia just has to wait till the latter half of 2025 for a fight with the new hot prospect in town. Nevertheless, how excited are you to watch ‘KingRy’ take on ‘The Lightning’? Let us know in the comment section below.