Oscar De La Hoya Blocks Ryan Garcia's Return

Ryan Garcia's planned exhibition fight against Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo on December 30 is in jeopardy following a statement from his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, declaring that Golden Boy Promotions has not approved the bout. De La Hoya emphasized that they hold exclusive rights to Garcia's fights, and without their sign-off, the event cannot proceed. Garcia, currently serving a one-year suspension for testing positive for a banned substance, had hoped this fight would allow him to stay active during his ban. The press conference for the event featured an intense staredown between the fighters, with Garcia expressing his desire to avenge Anpo's performance against Manny Pacquiao. However, De La Hoya's intervention raises questions about whether Garcia can compete at all during this period. The uncertainty around the bout reflects broader concerns about Garcia's future in boxing, especially after his previous win was overturned to a no-contest due to doping violations.