By: Sean Crose
“Exercising my authority as WBC president,” World Boxing Council chief Mauricio Sulaiman posted on social media Thursday night, “I hereby expel Ryan Garcia from all activities of our organization.” Garcia, a boxer now known for his controversy as well as his thunderous power, reportedly took to social media in a derogatory rant against black people as well as Muslims. “We oppose all forms of discrimination,” Sulaiman continued. “I am concerned for Ryan(‘s) safety as he has repeatedly refused our help for his mental health and substance abuse.”
Thursday’s July 4 fireworks were the latest in a series of high-profile incidents involving the fighter known as “King Ry.” The 25-year-old regularly takes to social media with statements that can often be considered outlandish or offensive. His win over Devin Haney in April was turned into a no-contest after it was discovered that Garcia had traces of a performance-enhancing drug in his system. Garcia was also recently arrested for vandalism in his home state of California.
Indeed, Garcia’s behavior became so alarming that his parents spoke out publicly on Thursday.
“Recently, our son has made statements that are inconsistent with his character or his or our family’s true beliefs,” the statement read. “Our family absolutely does not support any statements he has made regarding race or religion — these statements do not reflect who Ryan truly is or how he was raised. Those who know Ryan can attest to this fact. Ryan has been open about his ongoing struggles with mental health for many years, and as a family, we are committed to ensuring and encouraging that he receives the help he needs to get through this very difficult time and address both his immediate and long-term health. We appreciate everyone’s continued support, prayers, and compassion.”
