Boxing Champ Ryan Garcia Opens Up About Having Depression and Anxiety

Photo Credit: Ryan Garcia/Instagram

Ryan Garcia has been ranked one of the best right now in the boxing world and 3rd in the top active lightweight category by The Ring magazine, so it came with great dismay that he would pull out of a recent match. His July 9th match with Javier Fortuna is no longer on as he’s said he wants to focus on his mental health. Of course the fact he has a 4 month old child we’re sure is contributing to that.

The 22 year old posted on Instagram that he needs to pay extra attention to his “health and wellbeing.” He spoke about all the difficult times he’s been forced to “push through” but says he now needs professional help this time around.

“I have decided to take some time off to focus on becoming a stronger version of myself,” he wrote. He’s now in Hawaii with his girlfriend Drea Celina and their 4 month old as he focuses on relaxation.

Fellow lightweight boxing star Teofimo Lopez has chimed in showing public support for Garcia saying, “It takes a brave soul like Ryan Garcia to openly express that he’s going through tough times mentally. Instead of pointing the finger at him maybe you all should take a lesson from it!” He added, “We’re all dealing with something so what makes us any better? #LOVEyours.”

Looking at Garcia being 22 stating he needs a break reminds me of being about the same age and saying those same words and being told I was too young for that. Given the way that we like to either work to death or torture younger people as a right of passage, I can both relate and say that if he needs a break, let him have it. It’s better than him being a washed up athlete in a few years acting crazy because he never took time for himself like so many others.

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