Tattoos tell a story, and for former champion Ryan Garcia, his ink speaks volumes. ‘King Ryan’ has built a reputation with his lightning-fast hands and knockout power, often putting opponents to sleep before they can even react. His left hook, in fact, stands out as one of the most dangerous punches in boxing today. Garcia’s tattoos reflect the life he lives outside the ring.

Each piece of ink gives us a glimpse into his journey, his struggles, and the experiences that shaped him into the fighter he is. This week, Ryan Garcia returns to the ring to face WBC welterweight champion Mario Boris on February 21 at the T-Mobile Arena. He aims to add another belt to his growing collection. But before that, let’s unpack Garcia’s tattoos and what they tell us about the man behind the gloves.

What is the meaning of Ryan Garcia’s neck tattoo?

Ryan Garcia calls himself “King,” and he expresses that persona through the tattoos on his neck. His laurel crown, for example, symbolizes victory, success, and achievement. About five years ago, he asked world-renowned Los Angeles-based artist Dr. Woo to ink the design.

Throughout history, people have used laurel leaves to represent virtues like nobility and triumph, and a laurel wreath commands respect as a mark of accomplishment. For instance, artists often depict the Greek god Apollo wearing a laurel wreath, while Roman generals and emperors wore it to symbolize military victory and authority.

Even in the modern world, pop singer Justin Bieber also has the same tattoo around his neck. Given this, and having already achieved so much by the age of 27, Garcia chose to celebrate his milestones by placing this powerful symbol prominently on his neck.

Are there any other tattoos on Ryan Garcia’s body?

‘SHOCK THE WORLD’ Tattoo–One of Ryan Garcia’s favorite tattoos is the ‘SHOCK THE WORLD’ tattoo. As the words suggest, it represents doing something that surprises or amazes everyone. Garcia said, “I got the tattoo with the message, ‘Shock the World.’ Doing things that people don’t think you could do.”

‘Warrior’ Tattoo on his left shoulder–Garcia placed his first tattoo on his left shoulder. According to him, it symbolizes who he is. “The first tattoo I ever got was the warrior one; that’s just what I am. You understand what I am saying,” he said.

‘Lion with Crown’ Tattoo – On January 8, 2021, Ryan Garcia added the ‘Lion with Crown’ tattoo to his left pectoral. Renowned Los Angeles-based artist Dr. Woo inked the design, and it represents the qualities of a lion, the ‘King of the Jungle,’ including bravery, strength, and power. Beyond that, the crowned lion also symbolizes authority and leadership.

‘King’, who follows Christianity in his heart, in addition, associates the lion with the Tribe of Judah.  In the Bible, Jacob blesses his son Judah by comparing him to a lion, which represents Jesus as the King and Messiah.

Garcia also added another lion tattoo without a crown on the opposite side of his chest. Between the two, he placed a cross tattoo, connecting the crowned and uncrowned lions both visually and symbolically.

Dove Tattoo – Garcia got the ‘Dove’ on his left pectoral, a universal symbol of peace. Then, Dr. Woo added it on February 25, 2021, to represent the Holy Spirit. The Boxing sensation explained, “I got a dove on my body that represents the Holy Spirit that guides me.”

Cross Tattoo – Coming from a religious background and receiving his baptism in 2021, Garcia shows his faith with a ‘Cross’ tattoo on his right forearm. At the same time, he said, “The cross [tattoo signifies] the strength, the power in my right hand. Don’t underestimate the left one either, as it too has got that power.”

Tattoo near his left wrist–Garcia keeps this tattoo more mysterious. In fact, he said it reflects his nature but often leaves people guessing. “I said I’ll let you guys guess what this means, and if anybody could figure it out, I’ll let them figure it out,” he explained.

What do you think about his tattoos?