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Ryan Garcia’s highly anticipated exhibition bout against Rukiya Anpo, scheduled for December 30, has hit an unexpected roadblock. The fight, co-promoted by FANMIO and RIZIN, has been postponed following Garcia’s wrist injury during training. The setback ensures that Garcia will not enter the ring again in 2024.
“I’ve been eagerly preparing for my upcoming exhibition fight in Japan, training hard in Dallas over the past several weeks,” Garcia shared in a press release. “Unfortunately, I sustained a hand injury during training and returned to Los Angeles to be seen by the doctor, who has advised me to postpone my December 30 exhibition.”
Expressing disappointment, Garcia added,
“This is only a temporary setback, and I sincerely apologize to my fans, FANMIO, RIZIN, and Anpo for the delay. No one is more disappointed than I am. Thank you for being so supportive.”
The fight is expected to be rescheduled for 2025, but the postponement is just the latest twist in a series of controversies surrounding this matchup. Anpo, known for his blunt remarks, skipped a press conference in Tokyo, later admitting he overslept and held little respect for Garcia. His fiery comments continued after the postponement.
“I am disappointed, to say the least,”Anpo said,“but knocking out an injured opponent won’t mean anything. I wish him a speedy recovery and hope I can face the 100 percent version of Ryan Garcia. Get well soon, and I’ll let you kiss my fist any time!”
Garcia’s involvement in this fight has raised eyebrows from the beginning. He is currently serving a suspension in the U.S. for a failed drug test tied to his April 20 bout against Devin Haney. That match, originally a majority decision win for Garcia, was overturned to a no-contest. Adding to the drama, Garcia missed 3.5 pounds, disqualifying him from winning Haney’s WBC super lightweight title.
Despite these challenges, RIZIN president Nobuyuki Sakakibara remains optimistic about the fight's eventual success. As fans await further updates, the stage is set for this postponed clash to deliver even more fireworks when it finally happens.
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