Former UFC champion Conor McGregor sent a scathing social media post toward Ryan Garcia, and now the 25-year-old boxing star has issued his own menacing response.
Ryan Garcia, fresh off a shocking victory against the previously undefeated Devin Haney, failed pre and post-fight drug tests for their April 20 bout.
The lead-up to the fight itself was also marred in controversy after Garcia failed to make weight and thus became ineligible to compete for Haney’s WBC junior welterweight title.
According to the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association report, Garcia had Ostarine in his system, which is one of the banned drugs on boxing’s performance-enhancing list.
Conor McGregor, never shy to share his opinion on combat sports, ripped into Garcia on social media. ‘Mystic Mac’ said he was “sad and a bit sick” upon hearing the news.
In the now-deleted post on X, the 35-year-old McGregor called for a lifetime ban from boxing for Garcia before challenging the polarizing fighter to a sparring match.
Although McGregor deleted the post soon after sending it out, Garcia still saw it. And in his latest response online, the boxing star promised violence.
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“If I see Conor McGregor, I’m going to break your weak a** ankle,” Garcia said on X. He then accused McGregor of being on steroids, claiming it’s the reason he’s been away from the UFC for so long.
In a later video, Garcia continued prodding at McGregor. “I’ll knock Conor McGregor out bad. I’ll let him take steroids, and I’ll still show you.”
This accusation by Garcia comes only weeks before McGregor’s anticipated return to the octagon at UFC 303. The Irishman will challenge Michael Chandler in his first fight for the promotion in nearly three years.
As for Garcia, the 25-year-old maintains his innocence, saying that he’s “never taken steroids in his life.” Instead, he believes an herbal supplement called Ashwagandha Root caused the failed test.
The boxing commission will conduct a thorough investigation to confirm the results of Garcia’s two failed drug tests. Until then, the 25-1 boxer calls it “fake f****** news.”