Ryan Garcia vs. Jake Paul: A Potential Showdown in the Boxing Ring

Ryan Garcia has made it crystal clear: he wants to take on Jake Paul, and he’s not holding back on the reasons why. After Paul’s recent win against Mike Tyson, the buzz around a potential fight is heating up, and Garcia is stepping up to claim his shot. Here’s what’s going on with this possible matchup and why it’s got everyone talking.

Garcia’s Bold Challenge to Jake Paul

Right after Jake Paul scored a unanimous decision victory over Mike Tyson, fans and experts alike started speculating about who Paul might face next. Enter Ryan Garcia, who wasted no time in calling out the social media star turned boxer. In a recent appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Garcia said, “It would be huge. Everywhere I go, people are asking me to fight Jake Paul. I’ve got to give the people what they want.” It’s clear that Garcia is feeling the pressure from fans and is ready to deliver a fight that could break the internet.

But here’s the twist: Garcia had plans to fight Rukiya Anpo in an exhibition match in Tokyo later this month. However, Golden Boy Promotions, the company that manages Garcia, threw a wrench in those plans, stating they have exclusive rights to his fights. This means that without their green light, the match with Anpo isn’t happening. So Garcia’s got some hurdles to clear before he can step back into the ring.

A Personal Vendetta: Why Garcia Wants This Fight

What’s fueling Garcia’s fire for a fight with Jake Paul? It’s not just about bragging rights; there’s some serious motivation behind it. Garcia pointed to Anpo’s earlier match with Manny Pacquiao, where Anpo, being younger and much bigger, came off as aggressive and disrespectful. “If they give me a chance, I’ll knock this dude out,” Garcia declared, clearly ready to take care of business.

He sees Paul in a similar light, feeling that Paul is taking advantage of his size and youth against legends like Tyson. Garcia isn’t shy about his intentions: “If Jake fights the way he fought with Mike, I genuinely believe I would knock him out within four (or) five rounds.” Those are some big words, and fans are excited to see if he can back them up.

The Weight Challenge and Suspension Issues

Now, let’s talk about a big issue: the weight difference. Garcia typically fights in the lightweight (135 pounds) and super lightweight (140 pounds) divisions, while Paul came in at 227 pounds for his bout against Tyson. That’s a massive gap! Still, Garcia seems willing to make it work, even if it means taking on Paul at a disadvantage. He brought up the 2021 exhibition match between Logan Paul and Floyd Mayweather as a possible model for how they could set it up.

But it gets trickier. Garcia is currently serving a one-year suspension after testing positive for a banned substance before his fight against Devin Haney. His boxing license in New York is on hold until April 2025, which complicates things for him. But he’s not backing down. Garcia’s focused on getting back in the ring and proving himself.