Mauricio Sulaiman Comments on Ryan Garcia vs Floyd Mayweather Possibility
The idea of Ryan Garcia taking on Floyd Mayweather was never a common prediction in boxing circles, yet rumors about a WBC title showdown keep popping up. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman recently shared his thoughts with Fight Hub TV on whether this match might actually happen.
Garcia’s Recent Career Highlights
Ryan Garcia (26-2, 21 KOs) faced a tough setback in 2025 when he lost to Rolly Romero after returning from a drug suspension tied to a controversial no-contest with Devin Haney. Many thought his career was over, but Garcia surprised everyone by coming back strong earlier this year. He dominated Mario Barrios to claim the WBC welterweight title and then defended it impressively by stopping Conor Benn in just the second round.
Mayweather’s Legacy and Current Status
Floyd Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs) is widely regarded as one of the best defensive boxers ever, having defeated top fighters like Canelo Alvarez, Ricky Hatton, and Diego Corrales. Recently, his financial troubles have been public, leading him to continue fighting in exhibition bouts. Any fight against Garcia would not be an exhibition—it would be serious. Despite their age difference, such a fight would draw significant attention. Maybe that’s part of the problem boxing faces today.
Sulaiman on the Potential Bout
When asked if the WBC would approve a fight between Garcia and Mayweather, Mauricio Sulaiman said:
"Ryan fought the mandatory challenger, Conor Benn, which we mandated at our last convention. You can never count out Floyd Mayweather. There are many examples, most of them not great—champions like Muhammad Ali, Chavez, Tyson who ended careers on a low note. But there are also good cases, like Manny Pacquiao, who was criticized but almost became champion again. Zaragoza and Sergio Martinez also come to mind. It depends on whether Floyd has full medical clearance and a boxing license. The WBC rules allow him to fight for the title."
The Next Steps for Mayweather and Garcia
Mayweather has announced an exhibition scheduled for December 19 in Bangkok against Matty Floyd. He described it as preparation before a possible fight with Garcia in February 2027.
It’s unclear if Mayweather truly intends to risk his undefeated record or if this is just a way to maintain relevance and increase his earnings through exhibitions. Given his well-known money issues, a fight with Garcia could happen. Yet, considering Mayweather is nearly 50 and facing a younger, confident, faster champion, the likely outcome seems to favor Garcia defending his title easily.
Back in his prime, Mayweather would probably have outboxed Garcia. Today, though, the odds lean heavily toward Garcia. Will we see this fight? We doubt it, but in boxing, surprises always happen.
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