SPORTS SHORTS 287: RYAN GARCIA FACES RUKIYA ANPO ON NEW YEAR'S EVE BUT NO GO SIGNAL FROM GOLDEN BOY YET
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 29 Nov 2024
Japanese MMA promotion Rizin announced that Ryan Garcia will fight former kickboxing champion Rukiya Anpo over eight, two-minute boxing rounds at a catchweight 153 pounds (70kg) on New Year's Eve in Saitama, north of Tokyo, Japan.
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Garcia is penalized a one-year ban by the New York State Athletic Commission after failing a drug test before his welterweight victory over Devin Haney last April 20 at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, New York. Garcia knocked down Haney three times in rounds 7, 10, and 11 to win by majority decision 114–110, 115–109, 112–112.
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On June 20, the result of the fight was changed to a no contest, with Haney remaining undefeated and Garcia was ordered to pay $1.1 million from his purse.
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During a press conference in Los Angeles, the former WBC interim lightweight world champion Garcia said he would give "a lesson" to Anpo, who fought Filipino great Manny Pacquiao to an automatic draw in an exhibition in Japan last July 28.
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"He's excited right now, it's his first big event. This dude's excited," said the 26-year-old Garcia as quoted by Yahoo Sports. "I'm going to have to sit him down, knock him out and just enjoy my flight back home."
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However, Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, who has the rights over Garcia's fights, said that they had not yet given the go signal for the bout. "Golden Boy Promotions has exclusive rights to Ryan Garcia's fights," a statement was released.
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"The organisers of this event have acknowledged as such and have agreed in writing that our sign-off is needed for this event to occur. As no such sign-off has been given, as of today there is no event with Ryan Garcia."
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Filipino Carl Jammes Martin will fight Ruben Tostado Garcia in a non-title super bantamweight bout in Tijuana, Mexico. The 25-year-old Martin will defend his unblemished 24-0 record on November 30 clash with Garcia, in a match that may make or break his career for next year.
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Martin, a southpaw, was fresh from a second round technical knockout victory against Mexican Anthony Jimenez Salas last September 7 in Sinaloa, and he is now preparing for a fight with another Mexican opponent.
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Martin now trains in the Knucklehead Boxing Gym in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a world ranked contender being rated No. 2 in the World Boxing Organization and No. 7 in the International Boxing Federation. Martin has 19 knockout victories in his fights. His opponent, Garcia, is a 30-year-old veteran with a record of 27-14-1 with 10 knockouts.
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