American Ryan Garcia, who is currently banned from boxing, is set for an exhibition fight against former kickboxing champion Rukiya Anpo in Japan on New Year’s Eve, organisers confirmed on Wednesday.
However, Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, the management team behind Garcia, has cast a doubt on the bout, adding that they are yet to sign off on the exhibition.
“Golden Boy Promotions has exclusive rights to Ryan Garcia’s fights,” a statement said. “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.”
Garcia, who beat Devin Haney in their welterweight title fight at the Barclays Centre in New York in April, is currently serving a one-year ban for failing a drug test just before the bout, which was eventually ruled a no-contest.
Ryan Garcia and Rukiya Anpo getting physical after their first press conference 😳 pic.twitter.com/WaC00kTLkh
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) November 26, 2024
The 26-year-old is billed to face Anpo in Saitama, north of Tokyo, in a bout organised by Japanese MMA promotion Rizin, involving eight two-minute boxing rounds at a catchweight of 153 pounds (70 kg).
Anpo secured a draw in his recent exhibition against Filipino boxing great Manny Pacquiao in Japan in July.
