Ryan Garcia apologized in a series of social media posts on Friday after he used racial slurs against Black people and disparaged Muslims in livestreamed comments.
The 25-year-old, who was expelled by the World Boxing Council on Thursday over his remarks, also said on X that he plans to go to rehab.
“I take all responsibility for my words,” Garcia wrote in one post. “And it’s been a tough couple of months as everyone can tell but I AM SORRY.”
Garcia added: “I struggle with substance abuse and it hard for me with everything going on.”
His apology was undermined by posts he made later. Among his comments: “I stand on the fact that a black man can be racist” and “In the hood everyone has said the N word.”
Garcia also complained that other fighters had made racist statements without being disciplined by the WBC
Last month, Garcia was suspended for a year by the New York State Athletic Commission, which also ruled that his 20 April victory over Devin Haney would be considered a no-contest after he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
In the run-up to the Haney fight, concerns were raised about Garcia’s erratic behavior both in person and on social media, which descended into a disturbing blur of conspiracy theories and apparent cries for help. He later denied he was suffering from any problems. “Come on, guys, you really thought I was crazy?” Garcia said after the Haney fight.
In June, Garcia was arrested after allegedly causing $15,000 at a Beverly Hills hotel. The boxer’s attorney said after the arrest that it was “an extraordinarily challenging time for Ryan, as he has been grappling with devastating news regarding his mother’s health.”
On Friday, former world champion Oscar De La Hoya, who now promotes Garcia, denounced the boxer’s behavior in a statement on X.
“There is no room for hate or intolerance at my company. Period. I condemn Ryan’s words in the strongest terms possible,” De La Hoya wrote. “I see that he has apologized, and that is a start – but it is only a start to earn back the trust and respect of those of us who have and continue to support him. We hope Ryan will use the time he has away from the sport to work through the issues he has publicly discussed. We stand ready to help in whatever we can.”