“Get well soon and I’ll let you kiss my fist any time!” Rukiya Anpo in Sunday’s press release with MMA Fighting commented regarding his bout against Ryan Garcia. The controversy surrounding Ryan Garcia exploded earlier this year when the Victorville native tested positive for the PED Ostarine, triggering widespread outrage and skepticism. The positive result came after his dominant victory over Devin Haney, a bout where Garcia showcased his signature speed and power. However, what should have been a career-defining moment, soured quickly.

While dealing with the fallout from the drug test scandal, Garcia was expected to redeem himself with a high-stakes match against Japanese kickboxing star Rukiya Anpo in Tokyo, originally scheduled for December 30, 2024. The fight was his chance to silence his detractors and rebuild his reputation. However, fate penned a different story for him.

Ryan Garcia Repeated Postponements

A recent post on Instagram from the official account of Ryan Garcia confirms his injury. The former interim WBC lightweight champion also issued an apology to FANMIO, RIZIN, noting, “I’m really sorry to announce that I injured my wrist during my training for my exhibition in Japan, I’m working on getting it rescheduled and bringing an amazing event to @rizin-pr and @fanmio.”

He further apologized to Rukiya Anpo, his voice tinged with regret, explaining how he has to wait for the rematch, uncertain of how long the recovery might take. He said, “Sorry for any inconvenience, and a big sorry to @anporukiya you will have to wait for your humiliation but it’s coming!!” He then left a sweet message for the fans, saying, “Big love to everyone supporting me1! I miss boxing so much. See yall soon and happy holidays.”

Most recently, Garcia suffered a bilateral wrist injury during his training camp for the exhibition bout, effectively ending his chances of fighting later this month, as confirmed by Dr. Steven Shin of Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics. King Ry’s camp announced that he must postpone the fight until early 2025, following medical advice to avoid sparring for several weeks.

The postponement came after further drama—the Japanese kickboxer skipped a pre-fight press conference, claiming he did not respect Garcia and preferred to sleep in while asserting he did not respect the Victorville native. Anpo later expressed disappointment about the delay but stated that beating an injured opponent would mean little, wishing Garcia a speedy recovery.

This latest setback adds to Garcia’s challenging year, which includes a year-long suspension in April earlier this year because of testing positive for Ostarine after his Devin Haney fight, now ruled a no-contest.

Can Garcia Rise Again, or Has the Clock Run Out?

The saga of Ryan Garcia raises important questions about accountability and redemption. His apology, while heartfelt, has not been enough to erase the stigma of the positive drug test.

As fans eagerly await Garcia’s next move, the questions remain: Will he finally step into the ring in Tokyo? Can he prove his doubters wrong and stage a comeback for the ages? Or has Ryan Garcia’s time in the spotlight already run out? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the boxing world will be watching.

What do you think? Can Ryan Garcia redeem himself and recover from these controversies? Or has the damage already been done?