Ryan Garcia and his promoters, Golden Boy, are facing a lawsuit from Fanmio for breach of contract and other claims after Garcia withdrew from a scheduled exhibition bout in Japan, leading to financial losses for Fanmio.
Ryan Garcia’s got another legal mess to untangle just as he’s gearing up for his May comeback. The 26-year-old fighter and his promoters, Golden Boy, are tangled in a fresh lawsuit. Fanmio, the streaming platform known for its past promotions like the Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz fight, filed it. Why? Well, they claim Garcia ditched a planned exhibition match in Japan slated for December 31, 2025. Instead, he signed up for a different bout against Rolly Romero in Times Square this May.
The lawsuit paints a picture of broken promises. Fanmio says Garcia was set to face Rukiya Anpo in Japan. But then Golden Boy allegedly stepped in, saying no go — Garcia couldn’t fight under another promotion while contracted with them. “Garcia had agreed to the Japan exhibition,” the lawsuit reads. But Golden Boy, feeling threatened by Fanmio’s involvement, allegedly flexed its muscle to stop it.
Here’s the kicker: Fanmio claims Golden Boy demanded a king’s ransom to let the fight proceed. When Fanmio balked, Garcia suddenly cited an old injury and backed out. By then, Fanmio had already sunk over $1 million into promoting that December 2024 clash.
Back when Garcia was eyeing the Japan fight, he was under a one-year suspension for testing positive after facing Devin Haney. Most athletic commissions would honor that ban. But an exhibition in Japan? Different ballgame — less scrutiny there.
Fanmio argues their entire promotion hinged on Garcia’s ring return. Now, even if he fights later in Japan, it won’t be the same buzz since he’s already booked for May 2nd. “Garcia could’ve done both fights,” they insist. Both sides stood to gain financially. Instead, Fanmio claims they’re left holding the bag — literally — after spending big bucks on promotion and losing out on potential profits exceeding $10 million.
Meanwhile, Garcia’s reportedly pocketing $40 million from his Times Square showdown and future bouts through Golden Boy. The lawsuit seeks damages from both him and Golden Boy for breach of contract and other allegations detailed in a hefty 38-page document.
In short? A tangled web of boxing politics and big money stakes — stay tuned!