Ryan Garcia says his one-year-old son is already a champion in the making… and has his famous left hook
RYAN GARCIA says his one-year-old son is already a boxing champion in the making – having inherited his famous left hook.
The father-of-three has two daughters, sharing Rylie with ex-girlfriend Catherine Gamez and Bela with his former wife Andrea Celina.
And in December 2023, he welcomed his son Henry into the world with Andrea, who he remains close with as they parent together.
The American superstar named his youngest after his dad – who introduced Garcia and brother Sean to boxing aged just seven.
Henry still helps train and corner his sons – and Garcia will be there for his boy should he choose to enter the family business.
He told SunSport: “If I see him really wanting it, I’ll have no other choice but to support him like my dad supported me, so I can’t take that away from him.
“If that’s in his heart, like it was in my heart, I gotta be like what my dad did for me.
“I have a great example of what it means to believe in your son, so I think that I’m gonna just carry that forward to my son.
“If he believes in himself, truly, I believe in him and I know all the ins and outs of of the game now, so it could be that much easier for him.”
Despite baby Henry not turning two for another six months, he is already practising his boxing skills with his famous fighting father.
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Garcia revealed: “He already has the left foot though, which is crazy.
“I’m not kidding. I do mitts and I didn’t even teach him that, I guess it’s in his blood.”
Garcia, 26, returns to the ring on Friday night against former sparring rival Rolando Romero, 29, to headline an historic card in Times Square.
It comes having served a 12-month ban for testing positive for ostarine – known to boost muscle growth – after fighting Devin Haney.
Garcia had dropped Haney three times before winning a shock decision – only to have the victory overturned to a no-contest.
He had returned clean tests with VADA in the build-up to the bout and his team blamed contemplated supplements for the positive result.
But the positive tests were taken on the day of and 24 hours after the bout at Brooklyn’s 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?”
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.
Ryan Garcia
Garcia suffered a public mental health breakdown both before and after his fight with Haney.
He was even arrested last June and charged with one misdemeanour count of vandalism after causing £11,000 worth of damage in an LA hotel room.
But thankfully, Garcia turned it around and has got back on track both mentally and physically after fearing he could lose his children.
He said: “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 tops the stunning three-fight card outside New York’s famous Times Square.
Rival Haney, 26, also returns after a year lay-off to face Jose Ramriez, 32, with a rematch against Garcia planned for later this year.
Both have to first win and rejuvenated Garcia added: “I’m feeling good. I mean, I’m just ready to go.
“I may have been acting crazy last time around but I was still feeling 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.”