Ryan Garcia Announces an Unceremonious Retirement
The life of junior welterweight “King Ry” Ryan Garcia (25-1, 20 KOs) continues to play out for the world to see. Now, the 26-year-old Garcia is calling it quits and has announced his retirement. Has the pressure of being in the spotlight and everything he’s going through become too much for him to bear?
Garcia has a penchant for making headlines. The native of Los Angeles, California went to social media to make the announcement. It’s caused quite a stir with fans and pundits alike.
FALLING APART AT THE SEAMS?
On April 20, King Ry scored the biggest win of his career – a majority decision victory over reigning WBC 140-pound champion Devin Haney. But since that fight, Garcia’s life has been a whirlwind.
Days after that contest, news broke that Garcia tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine. The New York State Athletic Commission is on the verge of ruling on what disciplinary action he may face. Garcia has maintained his innocence.
Then, there are the eye-raising incidents outside the ring. On June 8, he was arrested for felony vandalism at a Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills. Then there’s the ongoing feud with Caleb Plant, where he claimed that he had sex with Plant’s wife! He’s also been on video doing his share of partying and spouting controversial takes about the sport and the larger society.
Is this retirement an irrational and reactionary move for someone dealing with a lot of stress? More than likely. Do not be surprised if there’s a change of heart on his part, and he fights again.
To be fair, Garcia is not only dealing with a potential elongated suspension. He’s also going through a divorce, and his mother is battling cancer. That’s not good for someone who has already admitted that he’s had issues with mental health. It all spells that things are caving in for the Californian.
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