When it comes to weight issues, Ryan Garcia barely needs an introduction. The subject has raised enough eyebrows over time and continues to invite scrutiny. His latest infraction, however, may draw less attention. Garcia has been fined $5,000 – not for missing weight, but for violating a rule mandated by the World Boxing Council (WBC), whose welterweight title he is challenging Mario Barrios for. The two meet this Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.
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In preparation for the fight, the WBC required both Ryan Garcia and Barrios to undergo weight checks scheduled across a 30-day period leading into the bout. They were required to submit the procedure through video. Garcia and Barrios updated the outcomes of the initial weigh-ins, where both stood within 10% of their agreed fight weight. Two weeks later, when the 14-day check came due, Barrios submitted his video on time, but Garcia missed the deadline, prompting a swift response from the WBC.
Ryan Garcia penalized after failing WBC weight requirement
“Ryan Garcia’s 14-day weight check was supposed to be received this past Saturday, February 7,” the sanctioning body’s president, Mauricio Sulaiman, reportedly told Team Garcia on February 10. BoxingScene later accessed the notification. The notice added that Barrios had fulfilled his obligation by submitting the video on time.
Garcia did not. “The WBC hereby imposes a $5,000 (five thousand dollars) fine for non-compliance,” the WBC stated. The Mexico-based sanctioning body expected Garcia to submit the weight-check video either by that day – February 10 – or following his training session, at the latest by the next morning. Failure to do so would have resulted in a press statement and contact with the boxing commissions.
The WBC ultimately did not need to escalate the matter, as Ryan Garcia complied. He tipped the scales at 154.2 pounds, while Barrios weighed 153 pounds, meeting the 155-pound limit (5% of 147 pounds) set for the 14-day requirement.
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LAS VEGAS, NV – APRIL 18 – Ryan Garcia at the Gervonta Davis vs Ryan Garcia Grand Arrival at the MGM GRAND in Las Vegas,
To provide broader context, a month before the fight, marking the start of the 30-day safety schedule the WBC had outlined, Garcia and Barrios were reportedly within 10% of their agreed fight weight, indicating they were on track with training and diet.
The next check, scheduled for seven days before the fight, is set to take place today, with a 3% benchmark tied to the welterweight 147-pound limit.
Past weight issues and WBC tensions surround Ryan Garcia
For many, the WBC’s fine recalls the Devin Haney episode of April 2024. Ahead of the bout at Barclays Center, Ryan Garcia weighed 3.2 pounds above the 140-pound limit set for the light welterweight championship.
As a result, he missed his opportunity to claim the title and reportedly forfeited $600,000 of his purse to Haney. He went on to win the fight by majority decision, only for the result to be overturned after his doping test results surfaced. The disciplinary action that followed included a 12-month suspension from boxing and a $1.1 million financial penalty.
This is not the first time the WBC has taken disciplinary action against Ryan Garcia. While dealing with the fallout from the doping controversy, Garcia drew further criticism by making racially provocative remarks. In response, Mauricio Sulaiman expelled him from the WBC. The expulsion remained in place until this past November.
As a final note, a report from BoxingScene states that, in addition to the weight checks, Garcia and Barrios must undergo VADA’s random drug testing. So far, there have been no reported issues for either boxer.