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.
Tom Galm has been covering the global boxing scene since 2014, specializing in heavyweight analysis, business trends and fighter psychology.