Why Ryan Garcia Passed on a $20 Million Fight With Jake Paul

Before that Joshua fight ever materialized, the rumor mill was already spinning. After the Davis situation collapsed, names were flying as possible replacements—Nate Diaz, pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford, and eventually  Ryan Garcia. When talk surfaced that Garcia had turned down a $20–25 million offer to fight Paul, skepticism followed fast. Even the self-proclaimed GWOAT, Claressa Shields, publicly questioned whether the offer was real at all. Calling 'Cap' on the rumor.

Now, just weeks away from challenging Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title, Garcia decided to clear the air.

Speaking on DAZN, Garcia addressed the rumors head-on.

“Claressa wants to say that it was cap that I was offered 20 to 25 million to fight Jake Paul and that we turned it down,” Garcia said. “You can go ask my lawyer, Lupe, that was handling that deal. Go ask him.”

Garcia didn’t hesitate to confirm the number—or the decision.

“I was offered that money. But guess what? I chose to fight Mario Barrios,” he explained. “So that kind of answers your question. $100 million or a world title. It really does matter what my instincts were, and my instincts were to go fight for the world title.”

Garcia spoke like a man on a mission.

“That’s what was in my heart. That’s what I really wanted to do,” he said. “I made that decision for myself, and I feel very happy about it.”

In a sport often driven by paydays, Garcia sends a clear message: legacy comes first.