Boxing champion Ryan Garcia, fresh off his technical knockout victory over Luke Campbell back on Jan. 2, is planning to retire from the “sweet science” at the ripe old age of … 26. But that doesn’t mean “The Flash” will be saying goodbye to combat sports.
On the contrary.
Garcia, 22, will consider a transition to mixed martial arts (MMA) to prove not only is he the best boxer in his weight class, but also the best fighter. And if that means laying waste to former two-division champion Conor McGregor, then so be it.
“If they say, ‘Okay, you’ve beaten everybody in the ring, right?’ But somebody goes, ‘This ain’t real fighting. Real fighting is legs, choking, submission, all that.’ Guess what I’ll do? I’ll go prove to them that I’m the best fighter all around in the world,” Garcia told Rich Eisen. “I’m talking about hands, I’m talking about wrestling. I will go to MMA to prove a point that God is greatest and I’ll beat whoever in MMA that they say I won’t beat. If it has to be Conor McGregor, I will. And I’m not saying this to get money. I don’t care about money. I’m saying this because that’s just how I feel.”
Not to speak for McGregor, 32, but it’s unlikely “Notorious” will still be around in four years. The power-punching Irishman is set to compete against Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 on Jan. 23 then has plans for a Manny Pacquiao super fight later this year.
Unless something crazy happens.
Fortunately for Garcia, he can always fall back on the Henry Cejudo beef that has been brewing over the last year. Or maybe “The Flash” can expedite his retirement timeline, or simply follow this example and compete in both disciplines at once.