Ryan Garcia, the American boxing superstar, has been hit with a $5,000 fine after narrowly missing the weight-check deadline for his highly anticipated world title fight. But here's where it gets controversial... Garcia, who is just a week away from facing champion Mario Barrios in Las Vegas, was required to meet a standard 14-day weight check ahead of the showdown. Despite submitting video evidence of himself on target, tipping the scales at 154.2lbs, Garcia was fined for being late in his submission. In a stern warning, the WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman wrote, 'We expect to receive the weight video either today or first thing tomorrow morning depending on his training schedule. If we do not receive this video by then, we will be making a press statement and will contact the boxing commission with this concern.' Garcia did submit the video and the matter has now been dropped, with full focus now on proceedings in the squared circle next weekend. The challenger will hope to avoid fresh controversy, having only returned to the sport in May last year after a one-year ban for testing positive for banned substance Ostarine. Garcia's hopes of crowning world glory are high, but he has faced two defeats in his career so far. Despite the loss, he has found himself back in the mix at 147lbs, in a fight which many believe he can win as the favorite. And the 27-year-old is motivated by the scent of redemption and avoiding putting another stain on his professional resume. He said, 'Two [defeats] is cool, but three is too much. I don’t wanna get this third loss at all.' Garcia's next fight against Barrios will be a test of his resilience and determination, and a chance to prove himself as a true champion. Will he be able to avoid controversy and emerge victorious? And this is the part most people miss... Garcia's past controversies and the potential for further punishment could impact his future in the sport. It's a fine line between determination and discipline, and Garcia must navigate it carefully. So, what do you think? Will Garcia be able to avoid controversy and emerge as the winner? Or will he face further punishment? Let us know in the comments below!
