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WBC reinstates Ryan Garcia amid Barrios title controversy

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Image: Not Fighting to Win, Just for a Check': Rolando Romero's Scathing Critique of Garcia, Haney, Lopez, and the State of Modern Boxing

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman announces that his organization has lifted the ban imposed on Ryan Garcia. This came after Ryan (24-2, 20 KO) underwent rehabilitation to get him back to work. He was expelled in July 2024 due to racist comments.

It is unclear whether Ryan will now be ranked in the top 15 of the WBC welterweight rankings. His promoters at Golden Boy are reportedly in negotiations with Premier Boxing Champions for him to challenge WBC 147-pound champion Mario Barrios in February or March 2026.

Fans on social media were furious after hearing reports that Garcia was in talks for a title fight against WBC champion Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KO). They believe Ryan does not deserve a shot at the belt, considering he lost his last fight to Rolando “Rolly” Romero via 12-round unanimous decision on May 2, 2025 in Times Square for the vacant WBA welterweight title.

Sulaiman’s statement

It doesn’t matter that Ryan won’t be in the top 15 of the WBC rankings. He will still be able to fight for the belt with Barrios. Garcia’s popularity makes him suitable for a world title fight against mandatory WBC title challenger Souleymane Cissokho.

Garcia’s popularity factor

It’s obviously unfair, but boxing is a business. Ryan moves the needle and has a huge social media following on Instagram with 12 million followers. In turn, Souleymane, who was born in Senegal and lives in France, is not well known in the US

A fight between him and Mario Barrios wouldn’t sell on PPV. It would be a disaster for Amazon Prime Video PPV if the PBC tried to charge fans to watch – a reality of the sport. Nobody knows who Souleymane is, so he’s out in the frosty.

I know it’s tough for a 34-year-old like Cissokho to ignore him, especially when a fighter who hasn’t won a fight in two years since 2023 gets a title shot against Barrios. It’s brutal and you can’t blame him if he’s seething with rage about it. That’s how it is.

Basic reality

Let’s be sincere – the WBC has not forgiven Ryan Garcia. Better for them that he was reinstated. He is like Fort Knox, pure gold in attracting fans and it will be more beneficial for the WBC if Ryan wins the welterweight title rather than an unknown fighter that Americans and fans in Mexico have never heard of.

Economic truth: look at it this way. Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia sells. The fight between Barrios and Souleyman did not. Worse yet, Souleymane would likely defeat Barrios and the WBC would have a champion holding a belt that American fans would have no interest in watching. If Barrios is to lose, it will be better for the WBC than against Ryan. From the way Mario has looked in his last two fights, it appears that he will not be able to defeat Souleyman without suffering a defeat.

Boxing is becoming more like WWE now and it’s more about who sells. The merit system on which the sport was based is fading away, being replaced by players who bring in the money. That’s why players like Ryan Garcia keep getting opportunities.

The WBC forgiving Ryan works for them because he will bring in the money. Holding him by the belt is great. It’s not about merit. This is pure marketability and works better for the WBC.

Last update: 11/03/2025

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Mike Tyson lists who was better between Mayweather and Pacquiao in their prime

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Mike Tyson names who was better between Mayweather and Pacquiao in their primes

Mike Tyson has shared his verdict on who he ranks higher between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

Mayweather and Pacquiao are considered two of the greatest boxing legends in recent history, and their success led to a battle between them at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in May 2015.

It was Mayweather who won by unanimous decision, but now, more than a decade later, they will meet again for a second time while fighting at The Sphere in Las Vegas on September 19.

Mayweather is now 49 and Pacquiao is 47, both men are well past their prime, and there is often debate among boxing fans as to which man was better than the other during the best years of their careers.

Mayweather retired with a perfect 50-0 record, defeating the likes of Oscar De La Hoya and Canelo Alvarez, while Pacquiao is the only eight-division boxing world champion in history to boast victories over the likes of Juan Manuel Marquez and Miguel Cotto.

Heavyweight icon Tyson once expressed his own opinion on who was the better of the two, ace revealed that he thinks Pacquiao has achieved more.

“Pacquiao is better than Floyd. He overcame adversity. He got knocked out, came back and had some sensational fights against opponents that outperformed any opponent Floyd had fought.”

Before Mayweather faces Pacquiao in a rematch, he is actually scheduled to face Tyson himself, and an event between the pair will take place soon, although it appears it will not take place on the originally announced April 25 date.

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Dmitry Bivol is targeting a fight with Canelo Alvarez or David Benavidez

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Image: The New Canelo? Jose Benavidez Sr. Says Son David Will Relentlessly Pursue Dmitry Bivol's Titles After WBC Vacancy

Undisputed lithe heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol could pursue a rematch with Canelo Alvarez or a fight with David Benavidez once he finishes his current duties in the division.

Bivol’s manager, Vadim Kornilov, outlined the champion’s preferred path in comments provided by Dan Rafael, explaining that Bivol intends to first pursue a mandatory IBF defense and then return to competing with Artur Beterbiev.


He is expected to have a mandatory defense against Michael Eifert this spring. The fight was scheduled for May 23 at a gala headlined by unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.

After fulfilling this obligation, Bivol’s team wants to immediately start the third fight with Beterbiev. Their rivalry produced two closely watched fights, leaving unfinished business between two fighters who have dominated the lithe heavyweight division for the past several years and built one of the most respected rivalries in the sport.

More intriguing possibilities emerge after this trilogy. Rafael reported that Bivola’s camp sees a second fight with Canelo as one of the main options still available to the champion. Bivol defeated Alvarez by unanimous decision in 2022, handing the Mexican star one of the clearest defeats of his career.

Another potential opponent in question is Benavidez, who has moved up to lithe heavyweight and has been seeking a chance to fight the top fighters in the division. The fight between Bivol and Benavidez will pit the undefeated Mexican-American challenger against a champion who currently holds four major division titles.

Kornilov also suggested that Bivol could eventually prove himself at cruiserweight, although such an idea appears to be more of a long-term possibility than an immediate plan for the undefeated champion.

For now, the plan of action remains straightforward: fulfill the IBF mandate against Eifert, complete the trilogy with Beterbiev, and then fight one of the most crucial fights that could decide the final stage of Bivol’s career.

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Categories David Benavidez, Artur Beterbiev, Canelo Alvarez, Dmitry Bivol

Last update: 2026/03/10 at 16:34

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Jai Opetai’s undisputed dream lives on as the IBF releases a fresh statement regarding the status of the title

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Jai Opetaia undisputed dream still alive as IBF release new statement on title status

A fresh twist has been revealed in the story of Jai Opetai and the IBF cruiserweight title.

Last week it was reported that Opetaia was to be stripped of his IBF belt after the opening bell of his planned fight with Brandon Glanton on Sunday at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, due to the fact that the fight was also for Zuffa’s inaugural belt.

Nevertheless, Opetaia continued his fight and declared a unanimous decision victory over Glanton extend their undefeated record to 30-0.

After the fight, Opetaia once again shared his desire to become undisputed in the cruiserweight division, and it appears he has been given the opportunity to do just that as – announced the IBF in a statement that they have not yet made a final decision to strip him of the title.

“Jai Opetaia made comments during the post-fight press conference that led the organization’s leadership to question whether his advisors fully and fully made him aware of the decisions he had to make in deciding to fight Brandon Glanton. The organization intends to take a closer look at this matter.”

The statement also included a mighty response to claims that they had decided not to sanction the fight due to feelings of “disrespect” in the run-up to the fight.

“The IBF categorically denies any suggestion or claim that it deliberately withdrew sanctions to cause harm. The IBF sanctioned the Opetaia vs. Glanton fight in good faith, expecting what was assured to happen.”

“The press conference held on March 8 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, made it clear that the inaugural Zuffa World Cruiserweight Championship would be held on March 8.

“The IBF, as previously stated on March 6, reserves the right to sanction title fights along with other sanctioning bodies that adhere to the same regulations that the IBF follows, and reserves the right to sanction title fights along with other fights that prepare the IBF cruiserweight title remains a subject of discussion.”

The final outcome as to whether Opetaia will indeed retain her title will be revealed in due course.

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