Ryan Garcia is threatening to sue the New York State Athletic Commission after they allegedly asked the 25-year-old boxer to undergo a mental evaluation.
Garcia has been the subject of many a headline after he seemingly had a mental breakdown live on social media. The former WBC interim lightweight champion made some alarming claims, telling controversial combat sports star Andrew Tate that he was tied up in the woods and forced to watch as unspeakable acts were perpetrated on children.
Garcia has also claimed that Bohemian Grove is real, that he has proof of aliens, knows who murdered famous hip hop artist Tupac Shakur — who was gunned down when Garcia was only two years old — and a slew of other eyebrow-raising claims.
As a result of his antics, the state of New York, which is scheduled to host his return to the ring on April 20 for a WBC super lightweight title fight with reigning champion Devin Haney, has asked Garcia to undergo a mental evaluation.
Offering a response to the request on social media, Garcia said that he would sue the New York commission for infringing on his right to free speech.
“I’m gonna sue the NYC Commission and this is why,” Garcia say in the video. “They’re trying to challenge me for a mental evaluation. I said, ‘Okay, what is your premise for the mental evaluation?’ They said, ‘Well your tweets and your posts.’ I said, ‘Is it not my U.S. constitutional right to have free speech?’ Because I’m tweeting what I’m tweeting that’s the premise for a mental evaluation?
“That’s curious, so now you’re trying to mess with my constitutional rights. Now I’m gonna sue you, I’m gonna sue you for defamation of character actually. They won’t test Mike Tyson if he fought in New York, but they will test me. Sounds a little fishy to me. And I love Mike, Mike loves me. I can’t wait for them to actually take me to court, because I will literally defeat them.”
Ryan Garcia claims he’s suing the New York boxing commission for requesting a mental health evaluation pic.twitter.com/PT0YSi35vG
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) March 16, 2024
Clearly, Garcia does not understand that his freedom of speech protects him from being prosecuted for his statements. It does not free him from the consequences levied by those who employ, insure, sponsor, promote, or license him.
Should Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney Be Postponed?
As of now, Ryan Garcia’s fight with Devin Haney inside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn is moving forward as scheduled, despite many pundits calling for the bout to be postponed until Garcia can get the help he needs.
Even YouTube star and part-time boxer KSI called for the fight to be scrapped.
“Cancel the Ryan Garcia fight and actually get him some help,” KSI wrote on X. “It’s sad watching him have a mental breakdown publicly like this.”
Cancel the Ryan Garcia fight and actually get him some help. It’s sad watching him have a mental breakdown publicly like this.
— ksi (@KSI) March 6, 2024
If the contest does move forward, it will be Garcia’s first fight since scoring an eight-round knockout against Oscar Duarte in December 2023. Before that, he suffered his first career loss in the ring against Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis last April. Overall ‘The Flash’ is 24-1 in his professional boxing career with 20 of his victories coming by way of KO.
Devin Haney is a perfect 31-0 with 15 knockouts and 16 wins by decision.
