He won a fight recently against Mario Barrios but was far from his best or has been in some years.
Sure, he came off a layoff in recent years and had that ban from boxing in recent years due to a PED violation that he maintains his innocence in.
But he’s all over the place in life and on social media in recent years.
Before his fight with Mario Barrios recently on fight week he said he was done with his promoter Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions but the whole thing is still up in the air.
He is erratic in person and online.
Many have concerns is he still using alcohol to excess as a professional athlete.
Especially professional boxing which is a shorter career than many professional athletes’s careers.
We as a sport however, professional boxing, are on the up and going straight to the top of all worldwide sport.
More and more in the days, weeks and months ahead this year.
Transparently proven again and again lately with so many great fights, wins and knockouts.
But, in the cold light of day, following that Barrios fight, we believe Ryan Garcia has been the opposite — a fighter in decline in recent years (overall).
There are different possibilities to why this is.
Here are 12 factual factors why some observers, like ourselves, believe Ryan Garcia has been in decline (or inconsistent to say the least) in recent years:
- Recent loss — Lost by unanimous decision to Rolando Romero in May 2025 for the WBA welterweight title.
- PED violation — Tested positive for ostarine after his 2024 fight vs Devin Haney, leading to a one-year suspension and the result being changed to a No Contest.
- Weight struggles — Has had issues making weight, including missing weight for the Haney fight.
- Only 1 win in last 3 fights — Before the February 2026 Barrios win, his results were Loss (Rolly Romero), NC (Devin Haney), Win (Oscar Duarte in 2023).
- Moved up to welterweight — Competing at 147 lbs has shown reduced speed and power compared to his lightweight days.
- Mental health & personal issues — Public episodes, social media controversies, and Ryan Garcia’s admitted personal struggles in 2024-2025 affected his focus.
- Inconsistent performances — Has looked flat or disinterested in several recent bouts.
- Knockdown issues — Was dropped in the Romero fight and has shown vulnerability against pressure.
- Lower KO rate in big fights — Only 1 stoppage in his last 6 fights (most went the distance or were decisions/NC).
- Trainer and team changes — Multiple coaching switches during this period.
- Age and activity — At 27, he’s had long layoffs due to suspension and personal issues, reducing ring sharpness.
- Failed to dominate top competition — Struggled or needed controversy against elite names like Gervonta Davis (KO loss) and Romero.
Ultimately the rematch with Devin Haney is still the biggest fight there for him and maybe one of the biggest fights in America as well.
Ryan Garcia is also looking at a possible fight against Conor Benn at the moment too.
A great time for boxing again thankfully right now — but not so great for Garcia outside of that win recently against Mario Barrios.
Barrios was very under par that night as well.
Who knows what will happen Garcia this year.
