Garcia floored Devin Haney in a big win, but lost it when he tested positive for banned substances. He also got kicked out of the WBC after going on a rant on social media. Now, he's working to get back in fans' good graces.
At a press conference in New York for his upcoming "Fatal Fury" fight with Rolando 'Rolly' Romero on May 2, Garcia said:
"I want to be great. I want to show my dedication to the sport and be a true professional."
But within 48 hours, Garcia sent an aggressive tweet to Romero, threatening to "slap the f*** outta" him if he crossed a line. At the same press conference, he got into a heated exchange with Teofimo Lopez. When Lopez referred to himself as Ring magazine champion, Garcia fired back:
"We don't give a f*, bro."
This back-and-forth between motivational messages and outbursts makes it hard for fans to believe Garcia's changed. He swings between uplifting posts and erratic behavior on social media, leaving people unsure what to think.
Oscar De La Hoya, Garcia's promoter, believes in his fighter's potential:
"Ryan has the skills and charisma to be a superstar. It's up to him now to prove he's serious."
Garcia's got a chance to show he means business on May 2. The best thing he can do is step into the ring, keep his head down, and let his performance do the talking. He'll need to find a way to balance his fighting persona with the need to fix his image.
It won't be easy for Garcia to win back fans' trust. But if he can stay focused and deliver in the ring, he might just turn things around.