Canelo Alvarez and Ryan Garcia spend a lot of time together. Both fighters practice their craft under the tutelage of Eddie Reynosa, and Canelo does not hesitate to provide advice and mentorship when the younger fighter needs it. In a recent interview, Canelo voiced displeasure with Ryan’s work ethic and dedication to boxing.
“He’s wasting a lot of time and wasting his talent,” Canelo explains. “I don’t see him 100% dedicated. We remind him to come to the gym, to train and learn because you need to be in the gym.”
Ryan Garcia has made more of an impression on social media to fans in recent months than he has with his boxing ability. Garcia fought once in 2021 and scored his most impressive victory to date against Luke Campbell in January.
This pace stands in stark contrast to the 35 fights logged by Canelo over the first five years of his hall of fame career. Some boxing people believe social media popularity and the money earned early in his career are for Garcia’s lack of motivation.
Ryan Garcia scheduled a fight with Javier Fortuna in July but did not fight due to anxiety issues. Golden Boy Promotions set up a comeback fight for Garcia in November. But Ryan withdrew after suffering a wrist injury.
The Future for Ryan Garcia
No one doubts Garcia’s talent. However, many boxing insiders and fans believe his head is not in the sport. This point becomes clearer when a pound-for-pound great like Canelo Alvarez needs to remind him to come to the gym.
Ryan Garcia is still only 23 years old and remains undefeated in 21 professional fights. The future for the 15-time amateur champion can be as bright as he wants it to be. But he should first heed the advice of Canelo Alvarez when the boxing legend says, “definitely, he needs to be a little more dedicated.”