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Ryan Garcia made waves in Japan after attending Manny Pacquiao’s exhibition match against Rukiya Anpo at Super RIZIN 3, hinting at a potential shift in his career. The former WBC champion, currently serving a one-year doping suspension, expressed interest in exploring opportunities with the Japanese promotion and targeting high-profile UFC stars for MMA or bare-knuckle bouts.
Garcia didn’t hold back in his post-event comments.
“I would fight — what’s his name? Sean O’Malley? ‘Suga’ Sean O’Malley? [And] Conor McGregor in bare-knuckle,” Garcia declared. He confidently added, “I know how to wrestle, I know how to do a lot of things that people don’t know. So yeah, I would do it.”
Garcia’s ambitions in MMA are crystal clear.
“I would knock out Suga Sean O’Malley’s rainbow hair off his head [in MMA],” he asserted, showcasing his signature bravado.
Despite his current suspension and controversial past, including expulsion from WBC for racial slurs and a misdemeanor vandalism charge, Garcia’s focus remains on the future. During the event, he entered the RIZIN ring and called out both Pacquiao and Anpo, who fought to a draw. Anpo, a former K-1 champion, had a significant height advantage over the 45-year-old boxing legend, which seemed to ignite Garcia’s competitive spirit.
Explaining his callouts, Garcia said,
“I don’t even know who [Anpo] is, but I mention his name because he definitely was trying to knock out Manny Pacquiao and that kinda pissed me off, so now I want to knock him out.” He added, “I would love to fight Manny Pacquiao — in a real fight, though, 12 rounds. I wouldn’t do an exhibition at all. I would want to do a real fight, old lion versus young lion.”
RIZIN has previously showcased boxing legends, with Floyd Mayweather defeating Japanese superstars Tenshin Nasukawa and Mikuru Asakura in exhibitions. Inspired by these events, Garcia stated,
“Seeing this event has really inspired me to want to come here and knock somebody out in front of the Japanese fans. Mayweather did it, but I’d do it way better. I’m a young lion. I’m a guy in his prime, and there’s a difference.”
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