The boxing world is filled with compelling narratives, and the intertwined careers of Canelo Alvarez and Ryan Garcia provide a fascinating case study. Both boxers were stablemates after having trained under Eddie Reynoso.
The Reynoso Connection
Ryan Garcia and Canelo Alvarez formed a strong relationship throughout the years training alongside each other under the auspices of touted coach Eddy Reynoso. From 2018 to 2021, Garcia was 5-0 with 5 KOs as Alvarez’s stablemate. But in 2021, Garcia took a break from boxing to tend to mental health issues, and by the time his next fight came around, Garcia had moved on from Team Canelo to form a union with trainer Joe Goossen.
Garcia would split from Reynoso in 2021 after Canelo had expressed his concerns over the boxer’s work ethic. “Look, Ryan has a lot of talent. But to me in my eyes, he’s wasting a lot of time and wasting his talent. I look at him and don’t see him 100 percent dedicated and, to us, that’s a bad signal. We always remind him as a team to come to the gym, to train, and to learn because you need to be in the gym.
Diverging Paths and Concerns
As the heavy fire came in verbally, Garcia admitted that he was fed up with the shocking criticism. Garcia’s run with Goossen lasted three fights and ended after the 25-year-old’s April knockout loss to Gervonta Davis. Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs) has since linked up with reigning trainer of the year Derrick James, and the duo will make their debut on Dec. 2 against Oscar Duarte (26-1-1, 21 KOs) at the Toyota Center in Houston on DAZN.
Garcia is preparing for the biggest fight of his career as he takes on Devin Haney for his WBC Junior Welterweight Title on April 20. There are concerns Garcia is not mentally stable. He has admitted to being high, smoking weed and drinking alcohol. The New York State Athletic Commission has also reportedly considered a mental health evaluation.
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“And as his friend, or like when we used to train together. I wouldn’t let him fight. The only thing I wish right now is that he has people to help him, because he needs it - without judging him. I don’t know what’s going on with him, but I hope he has someone. About the fight - if he was well prepared, it could be a 50/50 fight.
Current Status and Future Prospects
Now, both boxers are on good terms. The following Instagram post shows Garcia thanking Canelo for his support.
"I feel like in my heart, I am the face of boxing."I say that, because of my upside and how I can make anything have a higher reach. People don't even just talk about my boxing, they talk about my life. If I walk wrong and they record I am going to go viral for some reason. So I think I am just that guy now."I touch places that Canelo can't touch and I touch places no fighter right now can touch - just me.
How Ryan Garcia Lost His Entire Career in 1 Night
Meanwhile, Canelo remains focused on his imminent fight against Jaime Munguia on May 4, a matchup that has drawn considerable interest from boxing enthusiasts. Despite speculation surrounding Canelo's opponent selection, the choice to face Munguia was made after careful consideration and negotiation.
While some have suggested that Canelo was forced to face Munguia due to a lack of alternative options, others argue that Munguia's impressive performances in the ring warranted the opportunity. "Canelo is fighting Munguia because he was forced to, that's my opinion, I could be wrong," said Tim Bradley, Oscar de la Hoya 's partner at Golden Boy Promotions.
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"He was forced to fight Munguia. He didn't want to do any kind of business with Golden Boy Promotions, but he was forced to do it because of the money, and everything that was going on with Amazon Prime. Well, that was something, right?
Before bestowing the coaching keys of his career to James, Garcia considered a reunion with Reynoso. Alvarez said Reynoso would need to evaluate a lot of things but he would ultimately support his lifelong confidant’s decision. Although a reunion never materialized, Garcia says he’s set past differences aside with his former camp.
“Business, or whatever [Alvarez] ]wants to do, for sure. We definitely are cool now,” Garcia told BoxingScene.com in an interview. “I've talked to Eddy [Reynoso] and everything is all squashed. I have no hard feelings for them. I spent a lot of time in that gym and we have a lot of great memories. It's sad to think about sometimes because of all of the fun times we had but that's how life is. You have to go through new chapters. I'm so happy for Canelo and I want him to keep dominating and being the champion that I saw in the gym every day. I'm happy for him.”
In September, Garcia was ringside in Las Vegas to watch Alvarez’s dominant unanimous decision win against Jermell Charlo. “Canelo is a global superstar, and he can do what he wants, in his own ways. What can I say? He's done everything in the sport and he's doing really good,” said Garcia. “He fought really well against Jermell. He looked like he was back to himself, so I just tip my cap off to Canelo.
Across three venues on two continents in 72 hours, boxing regained its place at the forefront of the sports world with weekend mega-events that included several of its most recognizable, headline-making fighters.
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There was Ryan Garcia in Manhattan on Friday, Canelo Alvarez in the Saudi desert on Saturday and Naoya Inoue at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday. And the B/R combat team was there for all of it to compile a definitive list of winners and losers based on fight results, fan reactions and what it all might mean going forward. Take a look at what we came up with and drop a thought in the app comments.
One minute you're an afterthought. The next you're a player. Such was the case for Rolly Romero in the aftermath of his surprise defeat of Ryan Garcia, who'd arrived as a 7-to-1-or-so favorite in some circles. Romero had played the irrelevant side of the street since a KO loss to Gervonta Davis in 2022, beating the barely recognizable likes of Ismael Barroso and Manuel Jaimes and being knocked loopy by Isaac Cruz in a PBC main event.
It had been 2,337 days-or a few months past six years, for those counting that way-since Jim Lampley strode to ringside to do blow-by-blow work. Just a few minutes into Friday's show, though, it was as if he'd never left. The now-76-year-old didn't have the best teammates doing analysis, nor were the fights themselves much to talk about, but his mere presence gave the event in Times Square a heft that neither its action nor ambiance would have achieved.