Garcia Reveals 'Ruined' State Before Romero Loss

Ryan Garcia has revealed the extent of his personal struggles during the year leading up to his recent loss to Rolly Romero. He described a period of self-destruction that included jail time and a stay in a mental health institute, which left him physically weakened and mentally checked out. Garcia explained that his conditioning deteriorated due to daily drinking and anger after his previous fight was overturned due to a failed drug test.

He detailed entering training camp for the Romero fight in a near-incapacitated state, unable to train effectively and experiencing extreme lethargy. Garcia asserted that the Rolly Romero he faced was not his true self, emphasizing his opponent's inability to knock him out despite his own compromised condition. His hand injury was a factor, but his overall physical and mental state was the primary cause of his poor performance.

Having committed to sobriety and addressing a bacterial gut infection, Garcia claims to be rebuilt from the inside out. He credits a neighbor for motivating him to return to daily training. Now feeling sharper and more aggressive, Garcia believes he is in peak condition and has turned down lucrative offers, including a $20 million bout against Jake Paul, to focus on his boxing career.