RYAN GARCIA feared losing his kids at the height of his public mental health breakdown – but returning to boxing is his chance of redemption.
The American superstar has spoken honestly in the past about struggling with depression at times in his career.
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After beating Luke Campbell in 2021, Garcia took 15 months out of the ring to deal with personal problems behind the scenes.
But his fight outside the ring threatened to derail his career before facing Devin Haney in New York last year.
Garcia was openly drinking and admitting to smoking cannabis in the build-up to the bout, partying throughout his training camp.
Mixed in with worrying social media outbursts and conspiracies, fans and even his loved ones grew concerned for Garcia.
Amazingly, the troubled boxer made it to the ring and beat Haney in a shock upset, only for the result to be overturned after a failed drug test.
Now Garcia is back after accepting a one-year suspension – but thankfully turned his life around during the 12 months out.
He told SunSport: “That route I was on is not sustainable as a professional athlete.
“You can’t be going about things in that manner as a professional and just changing my whole mindset, making sure that I get back to being the best fighter I can be and the best athlete I can be and that was the switch that I made.”
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Garcia revealed he hit his lowest point last June after trashing a Los Angeles hotel room – causing £11,000 worth of damage.
He was arrested and charged with one misdemeanour count of vandalism – and feared he would lose his three children in the process.
Garcia, who went to counselling, revealed: “I mean, as a father you’ve always got to be thinking about what examples you’re giving to your children.
“And I think as a mature man, you have to realise your mistakes and make changes, no matter how they come about.
“And I think that’s important. I love my kids and I love my family and making sure that I’m a great example for them is a huge priority for me.
“So, I cannot be making those type of mistakes and I take responsibility and I’m ready to show them how great their daddy really is.”
Garcia shares his eldest daughter Rylie with ex-girlfriend Catherine Gamez and has Bela with his former wife Andrea Celina.
And in December 2023, he welcomed son Henry into the world with Andrea, who he remains close with as they parent together.
The Garcia clan rolled into New York ahead of his return fight against Rolando Romero tonight – with boxing allowing him a second chance.
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Garcia said: “It’s everything, that’s my career. This is my livelihood, this is how I support my family.
“And obviously it’s really important for me to be the best I could possibly be if I’m not that, then it’ll be hard to do anything else.”
Garcia – who claimed he was drinking on the week of his fight with Haney – has cut out and traded any damaging vices.
He said: “I’m just playing chess. Playing video games, playing golf, honestly.”
A clip of Garcia’s woeful driving on the golf course emerged on social media and he laughed: “Yeah, that was bad, right?
“But I gotta find some type of hobby, so it is what it is, just enjoying my time with the people around me and that’s it, living the life.”
Garcia, 26, dropped Haney, also 26, three times in Brooklyn last April on the way to a surprise points win off the back of his turbulent prepration.
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But the result was chalked off after Garcia tested positive for ostarine – known to boost muscle growth.
He had returned clean tests with VADA in the build-up to the bout and his team blamed contaminated supplements for the positive result.
But the positive tests were taken on the day of and 24 hours before the bout at the Barclays Center.
Garcia, who was also fined nearly £1million, said: “At the end of the day, I know I didn’t cheat.
“I’ll take the ban for a year and that keeps it moving fast. Everybody knows that I didn’t take it.
“I know my team, we know we didn’t take anything, so honestly it doesn’t really matter to me at the end of the day.
“People are gonna believe whatever they want to believe, they’re gonna believe I’m innocent, the large majority do believe that, so who cares?”
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Garcia returns to top a stunning three-fight card in Times Square against former sparring rival Romero, 29.
Haney features in his comeback bout against Jose Ramirez, 32, as a rematch with Garcia is targeted for October.
Garcia said: “I think that he has a great chance to beat Ramirez. Ramirez is a little past his prime. So I expect both of us to win, for sure.”Â
Despite his failed drug test and subsequent no-contest the beatdown of Haney has left question marks of the former champion’s confidence.
And Garcia goaded: “I have no idea how he’s gonna go about himself. I just know that I was in his head the first time.
“It’s hard to look past getting dropped three times, I mean, you have to address that within yourself. So I don’t know how he’s gonna handle that.”Â
Garcia steps up to the 147lb welterweight division to face Romero and said: “I’m just ready to go.
“I may have been acting crazy last time around but I was still feeling pretty good physically, but for me this time around I feel good both, mentally and physically.
“So, you know, I’ve done this before. I’ve fought many fights in my life and I’m ready, I’m in shape, ready to go 12 rounds and ready to do my job.”
Watch the full episode of The Sun’s Split Decision featuring exclusive interviews with Canelo Alvarez, Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney.
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