Ryan Garcia (image via DAZN / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Ryan Garcia is widely considered to be one of boxing’s fastest rising stars. But, the 22-year-old is reporting he doesn’t have many years left boxing. Not only that, Garcia is claiming he could be open to making a run in MMA, after his boxing career winds down.

Garcia is coming off a thrilling, stoppage win over Luke Campbell earlier this month, which saw him fight back from an early knockdown. More recently, Garcia (21-0) spoke with Rich Eisen, and the interim WBC lightweight champ reported he wants to retire from boxing at 26 (quotes via MMA Fighting).

“Yeah, I plan to. If I say it, I plan to do it,” Garcia said. “I plan at 26 to retire, I don’t know, officially. You’ve seen in the past, fighters have retired and come back. This is what I will say: I still plan to retire at 26, yet, yet if I am to return back to the ring, I will only battle people that people will say at that time “There’s no way Ryan will beat them.” That’s the only time I’m coming back and I will always give the glory to God after I win. That’s what I plan to do. All I box for is to give the glory to God, so once I win I say thank you Lord, Jesus Christ is coming, there it is. That’s my plan.”

And while talking about the possibility of transitioning into MMA, Garcia said this.

“To answer your question, 26, I still plan to retire,” Garcia said. “But if I do return back in the ring, I will promise everybody that I will fight people that they say I won’t beat. You know what I’m willing to do? I really haven’t said this out loud but what I plan to do is, say at 26 I’m done retired and boxing is all good. You know what I’ll do? If they say, “Okay, you’ve beaten everybody in the ring, right?” But somebody goes, “This ain’t real fighting. Real fighting is legs, choking, submission, all that.” Guess what I’ll do? I’ll go prove to them that I’m the best fighter all around in the world. I’m talking about hands, I’m talking about wrestling. I will go to MMA to prove a point that God is greatest and I’ll beat whoever in MMA that they say I won’t beat. If it has to be Conor McGregor, I will. And I’m not saying this to get money. I don’t care about money. I’m saying this because that’s just how I feel.”

Before turning pro, Garcia went 215-15 in amateur competition.