Notebook: Ryan Garcia set for surgery on bum right wrist
Stanionis puts other welterweight titleholders on notice; Haney signs up for 24/7/365 VADA testing program; Quick hits; Show and tell
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Ryan Garcia announced that he will undergo surgery on his injured right wrist.
In mid-December, Garcia injured the wrist during training for an exhibition bout against Japanese kickboxing star Rukiya Anpo that was scheduled to headline a Fanmio/RIZN PPV event on Dec. 30 in Tokyo. The promoters announced it would be “rescheduled for a date in early 2025,” but that looks unlikely given Garcia’s announcement.
Anpo, who had previously dominated Manny Pacquiao in a boxing exhibition, instead faced fellow former K-1 champion Sina Karimian in a six-round boxing exhibition with two-minute rounds.
During the broadcast Garcia addressed the injury.
“I’m coming on here to say I’m sorry, sorry that I had to postpone this fight,” Garcia said. “I suffered a hand injury in training camp to my right wrist right here, where after talking to doctors, I’m going to need surgery. And I had to take some time off to heal. I want to thank Fanmio and RIZIN for the opportunity.
“I’m still excited to fight in Japan soon and this will all resume right after I heal up in 2025. So, make no mistake, I am coming back to finish what we started with Anpo and he will eat his words, I guarantee it. Just need to take some time off but when I come back there will be a bang in Japan.”
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Garcia-Anpo was scheduled at a contract weight of 153 pounds — which would be by far the heaviest of Garcia’s career as he has fought primarily as a lightweight and junior welterweight — for eight two-minute rounds.
Even before the injury, the exhibition was on shaky ground. Even though the promotion held a news conference in Los Angeles attended by both fighters there was a potential legal challenge from Golden Boy Promotions’ Oscar De La Hoya, Garcia’s exclusive promoter, who said he had not yet signed off on the deal as was necessary for Garcia to take part.
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Garcia was doing an exhibition bout while suspended until at least April by the New York State Athletic Commission, which left him unable to be licensed anywhere in the United States due to multiple failed drug tests related to his fight against Devin Haney last April in Brooklyn.
Garcia won the fight, but was overweight and ineligible to win the WBC junior welterweight title from Haney. Because of the positive drug tests, the New York commission changed the result of the bout to a no contest and suspended and fined Garcia.
Stanionis wants unification
WBA welterweight titlist Eimantas Stanionis, who has been limited just two fights since August 2021, is anxious to face the best in the division.
Although Stanionis (15-0, 9 KOs), 30, of Lithuania, has a pending mandatory defense to make against Shakhram Giyasov (16-0, 9 KOs), 31, of Uzbekistan — TGB Promotions and PBC, which presented Stanionis and Giyasov promoter Matchroom Boxing made a deal in late November for the bout to land on a PBC card — he wants a bigger fight.
“I’ve worked my whole life to become a world champion, but my goal doesn’t stop here,” Stanionis said. “I want to unify the division and prove I am the best welterweight in the world. No more excuses, let’s get these unifications done, I’m ready to whoever steps up first.
“The welterweight division is one of the most exciting in boxing, and I want to be the fighter who unites it. To all the champions out there — let’s make these fights happen. No excuses. The time is now.”
Stanionis, who made his first defense by unanimous decision versus Gabriel Maestre on May 4 on the Canelo Alvarez-Jaime Munguia undercard, gave his thoughts on the other welterweight titleholders.
Mario Barrios (WBC and fellow PBC fighter): “Mario Barrios is a strong champion who brings toughness and heart into the ring. A fight between us would be explosive. I respect what he’s done in the sport, but I believe my skill and determination will make the difference. Let’s give the fans a war they’ll never forget.”
Brian Norman Jr. (WBO): “Brian Norman Jr. has proven he belongs at the top, and he’s only getting better. I know he’s hungry to show the world what he’s capable of. This fight would be a high stakes battle between two fighters who refuse to back down. I’m ready to put my belt on the line to make it happen.”
Jaron “Boots” Ennis (IBF): “‘Boots’ Ennis is one of the most dangerous fighters in boxing today. He’s fast, powerful, and skilled, but I believe in myself and my ability to outlast anyone in the ring. The fans have been asking for this fight, and I want to make it a reality. Unification fights like this define legacies.”
Year-round testing for Haney
Devin Haney, the former WBC junior welterweight titlist and undisputed lightweight champion, is putting his money where his mouth by doing something rare in boxing. Haney, who announced this week on social media that he would return to the ring in March, has signed up for year-round random drug testing.
The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, which has long been the gold standard in boxing drug testing, announced that Haney has signed up for a program under which he can be randomly tested 24/7/365 through Jan. 2, 2026.
Fighters often talk about wanting more serious drug testing but it is extremely rare for them to consent to a year-round program. One notable exception is four-division champion and surefire Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire, who also previously signed up for that VADA program.
The WBC, which works with VADA on its Clean Boxing Program, lauded Haney’s decision to sign up for year-round testing at his own expense as an “exemplary act for the boxing world. Thanks to the joint efforts of the WBC and VADA under the direction of its president, Dr. Margaret Goodman, the Clean Boxing Program has yielded great results since its inception in 2016.”
After Haney (31-0, 15 KOs), 26, of Las Vegas, narrowly outpointed Vasiliy Lomachenko to retain the undisputed lightweight title in May 2023, he moved up to junior welterweight and shut out Regis Prograis, who he also dropped, to win the WBC junior welterweight title in December 2023.
In his first defense last April in Brooklyn, New York, Haney faced Ryan Garcia, who was ineligible to win the 140-pound title because he was overweight.
The fight went ahead and Garcia dropped Haney three times with left hooks and won a majority decision. But when Garcia failed multiple VADA tests and a New York State Athletic Commission test, the fight result was changed to a no contest. Garcia also agreed to forfeit his entire purse and was suspended by the commission until at least this April.
Even before that situation had such a negative impact on Haney, he has long been a proponent of testing.
Haney, who was granted his request by the WBC to be made an “in recess champion” while he took time off to deal with the fallout from the Garcia fight, has not fought since that bout.
BetUS Boxing Show
If you missed the BetUS Boxing Show live at 1 p.m. ET on Friday on YouTube, please check out the replay (and also subscribe to the YouTube channel). We are back for 2025 and previewed and picked the first notable card of the year, which will take place on Wednesday in Australia and stream on DAZN. Cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia defends against fellow unbeaten David Nyika in the main event and heavyweight contender Justis Huni faces Shaun Potgieter in the co-feature. We previewed and picked both fights, took viewer questions and comments and discussed the latest boxing news! Please check out the show here:
Quick hits
Willibaldo Garcia (22-5-2, 13 KOs), 35, and Mexican countryman Rene Calixto (23-0-1, 9 KOs), 29, who fought to split draw for the vacant IBF junior bantamweight title on Dec. 21 in Shizuoka, Japan, have been ordered to meet in a rematch in another attempt to fill the 115-pound belt vacated by Fernando Martinez. The IBF notified Garcia representative Sean Gibbons of MP Promotions and Calixto rep Tomoki Kameda of Kameda Promotions to begin negotiations. They have until Jan. 28 to make a deal or a purse bid will be scheduled.
IBF flyweight titlist Angel Ayala and mandatory challenger Felix Alvarado were notified that they have been ordered to fight next with negotiations to be concluded by Jan. 28. If they are not a purse bid will be scheduled. Ayala (18-0, 8 KOs), 24, of Mexico, who is with Zanfer Promotions, won the vacant title via sixth-round knockout of Dave Apolinario on Aug. 9 in Mexico City. Former IBF junior flyweight titlist Alvarado (42-4, 32 KOs), 35, of Nicaragua, who is represented by MP Promotions, earned the mandatory title shot via majority decision over Tobias Reyes in a final elimination bout on Dec.27 in Managua, Nicaragua.
Former WBA featherweight titlist Mauricio Lara (27-3-2, 20 KOs), 26, will take on Mexican countryman Edwing Davila (21-2, 11 KOs), 30, in a 10-round junior lightweight main event on Jan. 31 in Mexico City, Lara’s hometown, Bxstrs Promotions announced. Since missing weight and getting stripped of the title, and then losing a wide decision to Leigh Wood, who claimed the vacant belt in their rematch in May 2023, Lara is 1-0-1. He came off the loss and fought to a 10-round majority draw with Daniel Lugo in February and scored a seventh-round knockout of Pedro Delgado in August.
Show and tell
Acelino “Popo” Freitas, one of my all-time favorite fighters, who years ago I named our now dear-departed cat “Popo” after him, retained the unified WBO/WBA junior lightweight titles in an all-time great fight with Jorge Barrios. They were both down twice, but Freitas prevailed with an electrifying 12th-round knockout in the bloody battle. Freitas had retained the WBO title for the 10th time and the WBA belt for the third time, and it was now time for him to move up to lightweight.
In his debut in the division, Freitas challenged long-reigning WBO titleholder Artur Grigorian, who was 36-0 and making his 18th title defense, in a Showtime main event at the Foxwoods resort in Mashantucket, Connecticut. Freitas made it look easy. He was in control all the way and dropped Grigorian four times — in the fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth rounds — although Freitas lost a point for a low blow in the 10th round. In the end it was academic as he won 116-107, 116-107 and 115-108 to earn a world title in a second division. The fight took place on Jan. 3, 2004 — 21 years ago on Friday. Here is a rare glossy site poster signed by Freitas and Grigorian in my collection.
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Photos: Garcia: Esther Lin/Fanmio; Stanionis: Sean Michael Ham/PBC; Haney: Melina Pizano/Matchroom Boxing
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