In a recent turn of events, boxing sensation Ryan Garcia goes off on popular internet personality, Logan Paul, and PRIME, the prominent online streaming platform. Garcia, a lightweight champion, garnered plenty of attention with his outspoken nature and unpredictable punch-power, unloads on Paul for agreeing to the upcoming exhibition match.
Ryan Garcia, popularly known for his quick punches and agile footwork, pulled no punches in his critique. “Logan Paul has no business stepping into a ring,” said the 22-year-old Boxer sensation. He further expressed his frustration over PRIME for pushing ahead such events, using their platform.
The California native clearly found Paul’s recent venture in the boxing ring to be a mockery of the sport he holds dear. Thoughts similar to Garcia’s have been swirling around the boxing community since Paul announced his plans to get into the ring.
“It’s a disgrace to treat the noble art as a money-grabbing spectacle, Garcia emphasized. He noted the likes of Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather, and Manny Pacquiao who earned their boxing stripes through years of dedication and blood, sweat, and tears. In his mind, these stunt matches don’t symbolise the true essence of the sport and only undermines the sport.
Where boxing requires discipline, resilience, and countless hours of training, Paul, according to Garcia, seems to have bypassed all these for the sake of viewership. However, the Internet celebrity has been training under the guidance of world-class boxing trainers. Yet, Garcia doesn’t seem to think this validates or qualifies Paul’s presence in the boxing ring.
The Featherweight champion also took shots at the online streaming behemoth, PRIME. According to Garcia, PRIME’s push for ratings has facilitated the spectacle. “Nowadays, it’s all about who can pull in the biggest crowd, and it’s no longer about the sport,” Garcia stated, expressing his disappointment.
No longer is the heart and love of the sport regarded as valuable as it once was. Instead, it has become all about the revenue and the crowd an event can draw in. The increasing trend of ‘non-boxers’ getting into the ring under the guise of ‘exhibition matches’ has not only infuriated fans but also led to professional boxers like Garcia speaking out against it.
The Logan Paul match, according to Garcia, is just another example of the sport’s ongoing commercialisation. Such events could heavily influence the sport, leading to dire consequences. He feels these bouts, in turn, damage the credibility of boxing and openly criticized PRIME and Logan Paul for it.
“Sport is about competition, working hard and proving oneself the best, not about having the most followers on social media,” Garcia exclaimed. The 22-year-old is worried about the impact of such money-centric matches on budding athletes. He fears it might create an illusion that fame and fame alone could be the path to boxing glory.
Boxing has always been a sport of dedication, discipline, and determination. The concern of personalities like Garcia over the inclusion of social media personalities in big matches reflects the concerns of hardcore sports lovers.
The future of boxing lies in the hands of athletes and viewers alike. The question stands whether they let it evolve organically through its sportspersons or be swayed by the glamour of online personalities and lose its essence.
