Ryan Garcia’s reunion with Canelo Alvarez and Eddy Reynoso will have to wait.
The 26-year-old is set to return to action on May 2 against Rolly Romero in New York following a one-year suspension from the sport.
Garcia was handed the ban by the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) after testing positive for the selective estrogen receptor modulator (SARM) clomifene in two separate drug tests taken around his April 2024 clash with Devin Haney.
‘King Ry’ dropped Haney three times during the bout and was initially declared the victor via majority decision.
However, the result has since been overturned to a no contest.
Haney is set to box Jose Ramirez on the same card as Garcia vs Romero.
Providing they win their respective fights, Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh plans for the bitter rivals to rematch in the second half of 2025.
In the weeks leading up to the start of Garcia’s camp, ‘King Ry’ was seen training with Canelo and Reynoso, leading to speculation that they would be working together again for his upcoming clash.
Garcia trained under the watchful eye of Reynoso for five fights between 2018 and 2021.
However, Reynoso is unable to commit to training Garcia as he is getting Canelo ready for his May 3 undisputed super middleweight showdown with William Scull in Saudi Arabia – one day after his former pupil’s fight with Romero.
The logistical nightmare has forced Garcia to reshuffle his team ahead of his next outing.
Garcia has revealed to Ring Magazine that his father and longtime head coach Henry Garcia will train him for the Romero fight alongside his brother Sean Garcia, and strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune.
Derrick James led Garcia’s camps for his controversial clash with Haney as well as his knockout win over Oscar Duarte in his penultimate outing.
But Garcia has opted to go back to his dad until Reynoso is able to take him under his wing again.
Garcia Sr was his son’s first coach and trained him for the majority of his early career.
Joe Goosen also worked with Garcia for a short stint after he split with Reynoso.
Garcia initially left Reynoso’s gym over concerns he wasn’t receiving enough attention, with the 2021 Trainer of the Year’s primary focus being on Canelo.
“Eddy didn’t have the time to work 100%. He’s a very busy trainer, and I understand,” Garcia told ESNews at the time.
“Sometimes you have to make your change for the better. It’s nothing against him. He’s a good trainer.
“I won five fights with him by knockout, so there’s nothing wrong. I’m going to another level, and I need a full-on, 100% [trainer].
“It was never bad blood. It was about dedication and time, you know?”
