Ryan Garcia Hints at Jake Paul Fight While Revisiting His Rejected $25M Challenge

Former world boxing champion Ryan Garcia recently revealed why he turned down the $25 million fight offer against Jake Paul while hinting at a potential future fight.

Ryan Garcia has revisited one of the most talked-about crossroads of his career, revealing why he once walked away from a lucrative showdown with Jake Paul. Speaking candidly about the decision, Garcia confirmed that promoters offered him between $20 million and $25 million to face the YouTuber-turned-boxer, but he declined the bout to focus on chasing a world championship.

According to Garcia, the decision was rooted in legacy rather than money. At the time, a fight with Paul would have brought massive attention and financial reward, but Garcia felt it would have derailed his primary goal of becoming a world champion. The lightweight star emphasized that his speed and skill set were the reasons he believed he could beat Paul, but the timing simply did not align with where he wanted his career to go. Garcia further asked Jake Paul, who recently lost a bout against Anthony Joshua, to book a fight.

“My speed will take over. I’ll be able to get him. They offered me around $20 million or $25 million, and then I said no. I want this world title. I wanted to fight for the world titles. It would have sidetracked me crazy. I mean, you can still have me at any time. Jake, you heard it, bro. Everybody wants to see it,” Garcia revealed.

The revelation has reignited debate among fans about whether Garcia made the right call. At that moment in his career, belts mattered more than bank accounts to Ryan Garcia.

Why Ryan Garcia Believed the Fight Would Have Been a Distraction

Ryan Garcia (Image Credit: Getty Images)

Turning down such an incredible and lucrative offer must not be easy. Despite previously rejecting the offer, Garcia made it clear that he never fully closed the door. He suggested that the matchup could still happen in the future once he fulfills his goals in the traditional boxing world. Addressing Paul directly, Garcia stated that he could still be available “at any time,” acknowledging the widespread fan interest in the potential bout.

Despite Garcia’s reputation taking a serious toll over the past few months, this recent revelation on social media has prompted fans to say some positive things about Garcia again.

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While fans were unable to see an exciting bout between Jake Paul and Garcia back then, Ryan has again paved the way to a future bout.