Ryan Garcia says he’s ‘ready to fight anybody at this point’

Garcia was suspended for one year by the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) for failing a drug test. But the boxer maintained his innocence and colorfully asserted a desire to stick it to the Commission:

“I’m retiring for a year so they don’t get the [satisfaction] for suspending me, [because] it’s bull,” Garcia said. “I never took steroids in my life. They can all suck weiners.”

Jumping headfirst into a sport he’s never competed in may seem like a risky way to one-up NYSAC, but Garcia has previously claimed he can take O’Malley in an MMA fight.

“I’ll beat his a-- in MMA guaranteed,” Garcia told Ariel Helwani on the "The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani" podcast. “I’m a natural, you don’t understand. I’m a natural wrestler. I just beat my security that’s a wrestler. I beat him. I’m strong and [I’ve] got crazy conditioning.”

O’Malley has outlined a plan for taking on Garcia in a boxing match at some point, so the UFC superstar may also be open to a cage match with the boxer. Whether the two could cut through the red tape surrounding a potential fight remains to be seen.

Chances are Garcia’s claims are mere pugilistic bravado. But after losing the $1.1M purse from his latest boxing match due to his suspension, he just might be motivated enough to mean business.