Former interim WBC lightweight champion Ryan Garcia seems to have just dropped a massive update on his next fight. The Victorville native is currently serving his one-year suspension from boxing, imposed by the New York State Athletic Commission after he tested positive for the banned substance ostarine during his fight against Devin Haney last April. 

Garcia dropped Haney three times en route to a majority decision victory in New York—but because of his doping results, he incurred a $1.2 million fine and a year on the sidelines while his win was turned into a no-contest. Regardless, Garcia seems to be planning a return to the ring in January 2025 against French boxer Jaber Zayani in Dubai. 

Ryan Garcia: Dubai Detour

Earlier today, the 27-year-old boxer took to his Instagram to share a post captioned, “Coming to Dubai in January! Big event.” Meanwhile, he also shared a poster, which said, “Featuring musical performance and a boxing event with Jaber Zayani.” Even Zayani shared a fight poster with Ryan Garcia, captioning the post, “See you soon @kingryan.” The event is reportedly being organized by the Secrets of Eden, an event management group. 

The rules and regulations surrounding the fight remain unclear, though some sources report it will be an exhibition bout between Garcia and Zayani, who boasts an 18-0 professional record. While the NYSAC and other American sanctioning bodies could prevent Garcia from participating in a professional match, an exhibition bout appears beyond their jurisdiction.

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To top it off, the fight is set to take place in Dubai—well beyond the commission’s reach. Meanwhile, the possibility of a rematch with Devin Haney seems to be fading, as Garcia’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, has stated they’re more interested in pursuing a bout with Teofimo Lopez rather than revisiting a fight with Haney.

Garcia is set to return to professional boxing in April next year, and until then, this exhibition appears to be his way of staying active—and cashing in big money. Regardless, his surprise announcement on social media has caught the boxing world off guard, sparking a flood of questions and reactions in the comments.

Fan speculates on the role of Ryan Garcia after he drops new update

Because of Garcia’s ban from the sport, there seems to have been some sort of confusion among fans. One fan expressed their surprise about Garcia’s role in the event, commenting, “Is Ryan fighting or singing? 😂😂” The confusion likely stemmed from the boxer’s history of dabbling with music and the event poster’s mention of a musical performance, leaving some fans unsure of what to expect.

Meanwhile, this user sarcastically asked whether Devin Haney would be in the event. The user wrote, “Devin Haney special guest?” While it’s not impossible for Haney to be there, his attendance at the event seems unlikely. 

Someone else had an interesting question. The user asked, “Can we get a ‘Blessed, Highly Favored’?” The song is, of course, from Ryan Garcia, who released the song on 19th April earlier this year. 

Another user seemed pleased with the update from Garcia. “We need you back in boxing it’s boring now,” the user commented. Garcia will likely return to professional boxing in America after April when his suspension is lifted. 

The next user didn’t think it was a fight announcement. “Mannn I thought this was a fight announcement 😭😭,” the user wrote. However, all signs still point to a fight announcement.

At this point, details about the fight remain vague, though the Victorville native may share more as we edge closer to the date. In the meantime, what are your thoughts on Garcia making his comeback through an exhibition bout? Would you pay to watch it? Or do you think it’s something else entirely?