Report: Ryan Garcia Arrested on Charge of Felony Vandalism
Jun 8, 2024 • 10:47 PM ET
In a venue where he typically is found conducting boxing news conferences, Ryan Garcia has strayed into trouble again – this time prompting his arrest.
Garcia on Saturday afternoon was reportedly arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism at the Beverly Hills Waldorf Astoria.
TMZ Sports posted video of a shirtless Garcia, 25, being taken into custody in handcuffs, the news agency reporting law enforcement sources saying that they apprehended the boxer for allegedly damaging property in his hotel room and a hallway.
Garcia’s head was shielded by a helmet in the TMZ footage.
Garcia’s manager, Guadalupe Valencia, told BoxingScene on Saturday evening that he was crafting a news release responding to the arrest, saying he “can’t confirm at this moment” whether all of the details in the TMZ report were accurate.
“We don’t have all the information yet,” Valencia wrote BoxingScene by text message.
Garcia staged the news conference for his 2023 fight against Gervonta Davis next to the Waldorf Astoria.
The 25-year-old Garcia (25-1, 20 KOs) has lived a turbulent existence this year, behaving erratically throughout the lead-up to his surprising three-knockdown majority decision victory over then-unbeaten WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney on April 20 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
That effort was compromised by Garcia weighing more than three pounds over the bout’s 140-pound limit, depriving him of the belt, and he then submitted two positive pre-fight drug tests for the banned performance-enhancing substance ostarine, confirmed by “B” sample positives.
The New York State Athletic Commission will determine whether to suspend and fine Garcia and it could also change his victory to a no-contest or label it a loss by disqualifying him, as Haney’s attorney has requested for making a “mockery” of boxing rules.
Garcia has said on social media that he has been distraught by his mother’s recent breast cancer diagnosis, and TMZ reported that police conducted a welfare check on Garcia at the hotel Wednesday following a report from “one of Ryan’s family members.”
Earlier Saturday, Garcia criticized his promoter, Golden Boy, and streaming partner DAZN, for not paying him his full cut from the Haney bout, a suggestion Haney seemed to confirm with a post on X.
TMZ reported it was told Garcia was “seemingly under the influence” but complied peacefully with law enforcement.
BoxingScene will have more on Garcia’s arrest as details emerge.
Lance Pugmire has been a full-time boxing writer for nearly 20 years, serving now as BoxingScene’s U.S. Senior Writer and assistant producer for ProBoxTV’s “BoxingScene Today.” Pugmire capped a near 20-year career at the Los Angeles Times (sports investigations, NHL/MLB beat work, law enforcement/courts and boxing/UFC) to join The Athletic, and then USA Today. Pugmire’s stint at The Times started with the first Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez fight and the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jnr then-record pay-per-view, leading through a slew of ringside assignments at major bouts, including Mayweather-Pacquiao, Mayweather-Canelo and the Canelo-Golovkin trilogy. Lance’s appreciation for boxing is rooted in his admiration and appreciation for the fighters, gladiators who have proven to be the most forthcoming and candid of all the athletes he has interviewed over a career dating to 1990. Lance was honored to be named the 2022 winner of the Boxing Writers Association of America Nat Fleischer Award for career excellence and he’s collected many BWAA writing awards in categories ranging from breaking news to deep-dive long features.
