Ryan Garcia has thrown down the gauntlet, vowing to knock out undefeated world champion Jaron Ennis. The 26-year-old boxer made this bold claim despite currently serving a one-year doping ban.
Garcia's declaration comes on the heels of Ennis' recent performance in Philadelphia. The IBF Champion, known as 'Boots', won a clear points victory in a rematch against Karen Chukhadzhian. However, Ennis didn't deliver the knockout he'd promised, which left some fans and pundits questioning his performance.
Taking to social media, Garcia didn't mince words. He stated,
"Boots will get knocked out by me. This ref still sucks. And Eddie [Hearn] gotta stop calling his fighters legends prematurely."
Garcia's comments are particularly striking given his current situation. He's set to return to the ring in April 2025 after testing positive twice for the banned substance Ostarine. This positive test resulted in his recent victory over Devin Haney being overturned to a no contest.
The fight against Haney had been Garcia's best performance to date. He dropped the champion three times and won on points. However, Garcia came in overweight, making him ineligible to win the WBC Super-Lightweight World Title.
Looking ahead, Garcia faces some decisions about his fighting future. He's struggled to make the 140-pound limit at super-lightweight and might move up to 147 pounds. A rematch with Haney or a title shot against Teofimo Lopez are also possibilities.
As for Ennis, the 27-year-old from Philadelphia remains undefeated in 33 fights, with 29 early finishes. Known for his switch-hitting style, he may consider moving up to 154 pounds for bigger fights.
While Garcia's bold prediction has grabbed attention, it remains to be seen how things will play out when he returns to action next year. For now, both fighters continue to navigate their paths in the competitive world of professional boxing.
