Ryan Garcia to undergo wrist surgery

Ryan Garcia has officially announced he'll need surgery on his injured right wrist, further pushing back his planned return to the ring. The Californian first hurt the hand in mid-December while training for an exhibition bout against Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo. The fight was set for December 30 but had already been on shaky ground due to ongoing issues with Garcia's promoter and his current suspension from the New York State Athletic Commission.

"I’m sorry I had to postpone this fight," Garcia told fans during a broadcast in Japan, where a replacement event took place. "I’m going to need surgery on my right wrist and take some time off to heal. But I’m still excited to fight in Japan soon, so make no mistake - when I come back, there will be a bang."

The original exhibition with Anpo was meant to be held at a contract weight of 153 pounds, much heavier than Garcia's usual lightweight or junior welterweight divisions. Even before the injury, there were legal and promotional hurdles; Garcia’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, said he hadn’t signed off on the fight. Meanwhile, Garcia remains suspended in New York until at least April due to multiple failed drug tests following his April fight with Devin Haney. That bout was changed to a no contest, with Garcia fined and stripped of the chance to claim Haney's WBC belt.

Despite the setback, Garcia, who turns 27 next year, remains confident about resuming his career. He's told fans to expect an eventual clash with Anpo in 2025.