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.”
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🚨 Ryan Garcia and Rayo Velenzuela have agreed to fight next at a 144 catchweight‼️
📽️ @andrewcapucetti pic.twitter.com/eZn4IN0scn
— Boxing Kingdom (@BoxingKingdom14) September 6, 2024
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Ryan Garcia's next fight at catchweight: Is this a smart move or a desperate one? React!
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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.
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Ryan Garcia vs. Jose Valenzuela at catchweight—who's got the upper hand in this thrilling matchup?
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A rematch on the cards?
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WBA Junior Welterweight Champion Jose ‘EL Rayo’ Venezuela will Not be fighting Gervonta Tank Davis and will take off the rest of the year to spend time with family and return in 2025 for a Rematch with Pitbull. #pbcboxing #josevenezuela #elrayo #mexicanboxing #venezuelacruz2 pic.twitter.com/6C2pa8hkD4
— Fight Hook News (@fighthooknews) September 5, 2024
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Ryan Garcia vs. Jose Valenzuela at catchweight—who's got the upper hand in this thrilling matchup?