Ryan Garcia returns to the ring this weekend with a cloud still hanging over his promotional relationship.
Tensions with the young star and two head honchos of Golden Boy Promotions – Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins – boiled over following his loss to Gervonta Davis earlier this year.
That culminated in legal action from both sides, but Garcia’s fight with Oscar Duarte still falls under the GBP banner.
At the fight-week press conference, Garcia took his time at the podium not to taunt his opponent, but Hopkins, had made his own sly digs at the fighter in his opening comments.
“There’s a couple things I want to touch [on.] One thing that’s been on my heart is the statement that Bernard made where he’ll decide if I’m gonna finish or if I’m gonna continue boxing after this fight.
He don’t decide that. My coach does, my team does, everybody that grinds with me day in, day out. Ultimately God decides, not him. Nobody was telling him when to stop boxing. He stop boxing at what 45? So kudos to him. But he don’t determine that.
Last time I checked he said he’d never lose to a white boy then Joe Smith Jr knocked him out of the ring. Last time I checked Joe Smith Jr is white. So they be lying.”
Garcia then turned to De La Hoya, and claimed that the fighter-turner-promoter wants him to lose this fight.
“Oscar’s saying that we misinterpreted what they say. It’s plain English. I didn’t hear anybody speaking any language I don’t know. So it’s very clear to me that they’re backing this guy to beat me … they’re saying he’s the next Mexican star.”
‼️ Ryan Garcia PUBLICLY FIRES BACK at his Golden Boy promoters Bernard Hopkins and Oscar De La Hoya at the presser ahead of his fight vs Oscar Duarte on Saturday night: “Bernard said he'd never lose to a white boy, then Joe Smith Jr knocked him out of the ring.”
[🎥 @DAZNBoxing] pic.twitter.com/K9WMpRfaPf
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) November 30, 2023
Despite the sideshow, he said he remains focused on beating the hard-hitting Duarte.
“At the end of the day, I come to show what I bring, and I’m laser-focused. That’s where this confidence comes from.”
Fans will see on Saturday night if Garcia’s frustrations are carried with him into the ring, and whether or not they can be put to good use.