After Jake Paul’s recent win over Mike Tyson, everyone’s wondering who he’ll fight next. Ryan Garcia is all in and made it clear on “The Ariel Helwani Show” that he’s up for the challenge.
“It would be huge,” Garcia said. “I hear it everywhere. Everywhere I go, people ask me to fight Jake Paul. I have to give the people what they want, that’s what I do.”
Even though Garcia is banned from fighting until April 2025 due to a suspension for testing positive for a banned substance, that hasn’t stopped him from calling out Paul. His New York boxing license is on hold, but he’s still eager to get in the ring.
Garcia was supposed to fight Rukiya Anpo in an exhibition match in Tokyo on December 30, but Golden Boy Promotions, who manage his fights, stepped in. They said they need to approve the event first, and as of now, there’s no event scheduled with Garcia.
Garcia said he wanted to fight Anpo after seeing him take on Manny Pacquiao in July. “Anpo was way bigger and younger than Pacquiao, just throwing wild punches and being reckless in the ring,” Garcia explained. “I couldn’t stand watching it. If I get a chance, I’d knock him out.”
Garcia feels the same way about Jake Paul, especially after Paul’s fight with Tyson. “Jake was trying to go after ‘Uncle Mike,’” Garcia said. “It’s the same feeling I had about Pacquiao. I’d do the same to Jake.”
If they do face off, Garcia believes he could knock Paul out within four or five rounds. He added, “I’ve known Jake since before he started boxing. I helped him get into it, and now I’m here to end it.”
Garcia usually fights in the lightweight and super lightweight divisions, while Paul is heavier, weighing in at 227 pounds for his fight with Tyson. But Garcia isn’t bothered by the weight difference. He’s willing to fight Paul even if it means a disadvantage. He pointed to Logan Paul’s 2021 match with Floyd Mayweather, where Logan was 34 pounds heavier, as proof that it can work.