Boxer Ryan Garcia is threatening to sue the New York State Athletic Commission for asking him to undergo a mental health evaluation before his April 20 super lightweight championship fight against Devin Haney in Brooklyn.
Garcia made his claim in a viral video on social media following weeks of disturbing behavior online.
“I can’t wait for them to take me to court because I will literally beat them,” Garcia said in the self-recorded video.
García appears agitated in the images and is seen pacing around a room while talking to the camera. Earlier Friday, he posted a video of himself crying over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza before his X and Instagram accounts were deactivated. However, those pages have since been reactivated.
Somehow, Garcia’s promoter and Golden Boy founder Oscar De La Hoya insists his fighter is in “very good spirits” despite Garcia’s inexplicable behavior, which has included everything from accusations of sexual abuse to his claim that billionaire Elon Musk is the antichrist. Garcia even threatened to bite off Haney’s ears on April 20, in a nod to Mike Tyson’s infamous 1997 fight against Evander Holyfield.
Ryan García’s latest video shows the 25-year-old walking through an apartment
Oscar De La Hoya insists Ryan Garcia will be ready to fight Devin Haney on April 20.
Garcia has his work cut out for him against super lightweight champion Devin Haney (left)
“Ryan Garcia, I just talked to him,” Garcia told DAZN during Saturday’s William Zepeda-Maxi Hughes fight card. He is in a very good mood. He is working hard in the gym. Don’t worry about the posts, that takes five to ten seconds of his time. He is working hard every minute of the day.
Matthew Delaglio, director of the New York State Athletic Commission declined to comment to ESPNbut the network received a statement from Golden Boy spokesman Stefan Friedman.
“As is the case with all Golden Boy fights, we are in close contact with the commission and sanctioning bodies and will of course follow any and all rules and regulations to ensure our fighters are ready on fight night. fight,” Friedman told ESPN.
Meanwhile, WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán has said he remains in contact with the commission about García’s behavior.
Of course, Garcia’s latest video won’t help the claim that he’s mentally fit to face Haney in Brooklyn on April 20.
“I’m going to sue the New York City Commission,” Garcia is heard saying in the viral clip. ‘And I’m saying this why?
‘They’re trying to challenge me to a mental evaluation. I said ‘What are your premises (sic) for mental evaluation?’
Garcia was so upset by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that he posted a video of himself crying.
According to the 25-year-old, NYSAC was concerned about his “tweets and posts.”
‘I said, ‘Isn’t it my constitutional right in the United States to have freedom of speech?’ Garcia continued.
‘So because I’m tweeting what I’m tweeting, that’s a premise (sic) for a mental evaluation? That’s curious. So now you’re trying to tamper with my constitutional rights. Now I will sue you. In fact, I’ll sue you for defamation of character.
García goes on to talk about his own drug use, stating that his therapist recommended he use marijuana, psychedelic mushrooms, and even ayahuasca, something he had trouble pronouncing.
“My own therapist told me I should smoke marijuana,” he said. ‘She told me… maybe you should try (ayahuasca).’
The video ended with Garcia bizarrely stating “they’re stopping me from smoking marijuana” and adding “that should be illegal.”
Of course, this is just the latest from Garcia, who has been scaring boxing fans for weeks with his antics.
On March 3, fans became concerned when Garcia’s accounts posted a disturbing clip claiming his death.
Garcia’s X and Instagram accounts were deactivated shortly after posting a video on Friday.
The level of concern for Garcia peaked on March 3 when a cryptic and disturbing video claiming he was dead after having his “throat slit” was posted to his social media accounts.
Over the next 72 hours, Garcia alleged that he was raped by a family member when he was two years old, has proof of the existence of aliens, and witnessed “elites” raping children after tying them up in Bohemian Grove.
Garcia also claimed that an earthquake would “destroy” Hollywood and Las Vegas and called Musk the “Antichrist.”
On Wednesday, Garcia revealed that he is looking for a girlfriend while posting a topless photo to his Instagram Story. The post came after he announced his relationship with influencer Mikaela Testa in February following her divorce from Andrea Celina.