Ryan García, one of the most prominent figures in boxing today, has set his sights on Jake Paul. After Paul’s recent unanimous decision victory over Mike Tyson, García wasted no time expressing his interest in facing him: “Wherever I go, people ask me to fight Jake Paul. I have to give the public what they want,” the boxer said in an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show.
Although García is currently under a professional suspension, this has not stopped his intentions. Facing Paul would not only be a highly anticipated match for fans but also an opportunity to prove his superiority in the ring: “It’s time to end his career. I’m ready to show that this is not a game,” he declared.
A RIVALRY FROM THE PAST
García sees Jake Paul not only as an interesting challenge but also as an opportunity to close a chapter. He recalled how Paul visited his gym in Victorville before starting his boxing career, as well as his time at Canelo Álvarez’s training camp: “I witnessed the start of his boxing career. In a way, I gave it birth, and now I want to be the one to end it,” García pointed out, making it clear that he intends to control his rival’s destiny.
Ryan also criticized Paul’s performance against Mike Tyson, seeing it as an attempt to take advantage of the 58-year-old legend. According to García, the way Paul fought Tyson was similar to what he saw in the exhibition between Rukiya Anpo and Manny Pacquiao. That behavior, he said, motivates him to seek an opportunity to face Paul in the ring.
RYAN’S SUSPENSION
García is currently facing a professional suspension, which prevents him from competing until April 2025. This sanction was imposed after he tested positive for a banned substance before his fight with Devin Haney. However, the Californian boxer has made it clear that he will not let this situation stop his plans. He is willing to accept challenges, even outside the professional arena, to stay active.
Recently, there was talk of a potential exhibition match between García and Rukiya Anpo in Tokyo, scheduled for December 30. However, Golden Boy Promotions, the company representing García, denied authorizing such a fight, presenting another obstacle in his path. According to the promoter, “there is no event with Ryan García” approved for that date.
WEIGHT WON’T BE AN OBSTACLE
A potential showdown between García and Paul would present a challenge in terms of weight. Jake Paul, competes in a category significantly higher than García, who typically fights in the lightweight and super lightweight divisions. Despite this, García doesn’t see the weight difference as an issue: “I’m willing to fight under uneven conditions if necessary,” he said, showing his readiness to take on the challenge.
As an example, García mentioned the exhibition fight between Floyd Mayweather and Logan Paul, where the two also competed with a notable weight gap. According to García, that fight showed that skill can overcome physical differences, and he is confident that his technique will be enough to defeat Paul.
THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THE CHALLENGE
García’s desire to face Jake Paul is not only about the popularity of the fight but also about principles. The boxer expressed his outrage after watching the exhibition between Anpo and Manny Pacquiao, where the young Japanese fighter tried, according to García, to take advantage of the veteran Filipino: “I saw this guy, much bigger and younger, throwing excessive punches at Pacquiao. It was outrageous,” he said.
García believes Paul had a similar attitude against Tyson, which strengthens his determination to fight him: “He tried to do the same thing to ‘Uncle Mike.’ I’m here to put an end to those performances. Jake needs to learn that this is not just a show, and I’m the one who can prove it,” he concluded.
