Ryan Garcia divides the world of boxing.
Love him or hate him, you’re going to watch him.
Laud him or bash him, you care. (Maybe care more than you'll admit.)
He'll make you laugh, or make you scream. Regardless, Garcia will emerge from his welterweight title fight against Conor Benn Saturday, Sept. 12 with his reputation intact.
He is boxing’s most polarizing star.
Garcia has offended Blacks, Jews, Muslims and the LGBTQ community with slurs. He has also entertained a cross-section of fans with his antics outside the ring and his powerful left hook inside it.
At 28, he has also split the Mexican community. He proudly embraces being Mexican-American even though he speaks limited Spanish. But everyone might agree that some of his behavior has been a little
loco.
While many boxers show off their physiques during or after training sessions, Garcia poses in bath towels.
He's a pretty boy. A nasty puncher. A champion. And a chump.
Nina Drama and Ryan Drama
As expected, Garcia has found new ways to fuel the polarization during the lead-up to his fight with Benn.
Nina Drama, the popular UFC personality, rendezvoused with Ryan Drama, er, Ryan Garcia and the hijinks ensued.
They danced. They danced some more. Garcia looked unconcerned about his fight while he munched on a huge burger.
“I know you can’t do this Conor Benn,’’ Garcia said, pointing at the burger. “You can’t eat like I could eat.’’
Benn, who as recently as November 2025 fought as a 160-pound middleweight, must weigh 147 pounds before the welterweight fight with Garcia. Garcia, who started his pro career in the 130-pound super featherweight division, will have no trouble making the weight, even after consuming a burger or two.
The moment was amusing. Or irritating. As is often the case, Garcia seemed to be no less committed to selling the right as preparing for the fight.
Nina Drama posted on X a video of Garcia’s outside-the-ring hijinks and footage of Benn’s intense training session.
“The difference between Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn training camps is actually hilarious LOL,’’ Nina Drama wrote.
Is it Lol? Or Smh?
History of controversial remarks
In July 2024, Garcia was expelled by the World Boxing Commission, one of the four boxing sanctioning bodies.
“We reject any form of discrimination,’’ WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán said at the time in a statement.
On a Twitter Spaces that week, Garcia directed slurs at the Black and Muslim communities. He also made disparaging remarks about George Floyd, a Black man who died in 2020 after a Minneapolis police officer, who is White, knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes.
During that same month, Garcia made disparaging remarks about gay people and incendiary remarks about transgender people.
In November, the WBC lifted its ban on Garcia.
A statement issued on Sulaimán’s X account read, “The WBC has been very close to Ryan, his family, management and promoter and we trust a new life inside and outside the ring will begin.’’
A champ or heel?
Garcia demolished Devin Haney, knocking him down three times during a convincing victory in 2024. But then Garcia tested positive for a banned substance, overturning his victory and getting banned from boxing for a year.
In February, Garcia soundly defeated Mario Barrios and won the WBC world welterweight title – the first championship belt of Garcia's pro career. But the haters still will point to Garcia’s fight against Gervonta “Tank” Davis in 2023. Davis drilled Garcia with a body shot that dropped Garcia to one knee.
Garcia appeared to make no effort to get back on his feet. A quitter, howled Garcia's critics.
But the so-called quitter is 25-2 with 20 knockouts and a championship belt.
Of course, it's not all about boxing that defines Garcia. It’s the delusional and deranged rants on social media that led up to his fight with Haney. It’s the arrest for vandalism at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills hotel.
It was a surprise appearance in the wrestling ring during an episode of Monday Night RAW, which raises a question.
Is Ryan Garcia the heel worthy of boos? Or the champ worthy of cheers?
The inability to settle that debate is what helps elevate Garcia onto a polarizing perch.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ryan Garcia heads into Conor Benn fight as boxing's most divisive star | Opinion
