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'I’m misunderstood,' says boxer Ryan Garcia after suspension from WBC for using racial slurs

'I’m misunderstood,' says boxer Ryan Garcia after suspension from WBC for using racial slurs

Boxer Ryan Garcia

Boxer Ryan Garcia has apologised for his racial comments a day after the World Boxing Council (WBC) suspended him for the same. Garcia, in a series of posts on social media platform X, 'took responsibility for my words.'

"Sorry everyone that I offended," Garcia wrote while saying that he is "misunderstood"and is struggling with substance abuse for which he is 'going to rehab.'

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Garcia had used racial slurs against Black people and also made derogatory comments about Muslims during a recent live social media stream.

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Garcia's promoter Oscar De La Hoya condemned his client's behaviour and words in a strongly worded post 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 wroteon Friday (Jul 5).

"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," La Hoya added.

In response to the incident, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman announced the boxing body's decision to expel the boxer.

"We reject any form of discrimination," Sulaiman said. "I fear for Ryan's well-being as he has declined multiple attempts for our help with mental health and substance abuse."

Garcia's family also distanced itself from the boxer's comments and issued a statement which said that the comments made by Garcia 'do not align with his, or our family's, true character or beliefs.'

"Our family unequivocally does not support any statements [Garcia] has made regarding race or religion -- these do not reflect who Ryan truly is and how he was raised," the family's statement further read.

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Prashant Talreja

Prashant Talreja is an Assistant Editor at WION, specializing in sports: cricket, tennis, golf, football, etc. With over 10 years of experience in sports journalism, Talreja has pr...Read More