Ryan Garcia is back training after easing off following his victory over Devin Haney on April 20th. Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) has gained weight in the two months since his win, and he looks like he’s in the 170+ lb region now.
The Elvis Gut and the Importance of Staying in Shape
He looks like he’s getting an Elvis gut, and that’s not good, given that he’s a professional athlete and makes his living with his body. At the highest level, fighters must stay in shape between fights.
Ryan, 25, should not put on too much weight during his one-year suspension because it could hurt his performance when he returns to the ring in the first quarter of 2025. If he wants to let himself go physically, he should wait until he’s retired to enjoy himself. Until then, he must continue to work year-round.
Ryan’s weight hasn’t gotten that far out of control yet, but if he balloons up to 200+ lb, he might not ever be able to come back to fight in the 140+ region without being weakened.
The New York State Athletic Commission recently suspended Garcia for testing positive for the PED Ostarine. He only has nine more months to go before his suspension ends, and that’s not long.
That’s another reason Ryan should stay in training and not need a fat farm to take off the weight when he begins preparing for his next fight.
Avoiding Future Mishaps
When Ryan resumes fighting in early 2025, he will have much to accomplish in his career. He wants to be involved in the biggest fights, and his popularity will still be high if he doesn’t wreck himself with food and drink during the remaining months of his suspension.
There are rematches with Haney and Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis that will pay Ryan a boatload of money. He won’t get both of those fights if he doesn’t win his first fight back, be it Haney, Tank, or tune-up opponent.
Ryan feels that he consumed a contaminated product that led to his positive PED. When he returns, he needs to control his food and supplements to avoid another mishap.
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