WBC Reinstates Ryan Garcia Amid Barrios Title Controversy

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman reports that his organization has lifted its ban on Ryan Garcia. This comes after Ryan (24-2, 20 KOs) had gone through a rehab process to be reinstated. He’d been expelled in July 2024 due to racist comments.

It’s unclear whether Ryan will now receive a top 15 ranking with the WBC at welterweight. His promoters at Golden Boy are reportedly in negotiations with Premier Boxing Champions for him to challenge WBC 147-lb champion Mario Barrios for February or March 2026.

Fans on social media have been fuming after hearing the reports of Garcia being in talks for a title shot against WBC champion Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs). They believe that Ryan doesn’t deserve an opportunity to challenge for a belt, given that he lost his last fight against Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero by a 12-round unanimous decision for the vacant WBA welterweight title on May 2, 2025, at Times Square.

Sulaiman’s Statement

The WBC Board of Governors has voted in favor of Lifting the ban on @RyanGarcia after his successful process which had been documented . The WBC has been very close to Ryan, his family, management and promoter and we trust a new life inside and outside the ring will begin.
We…

— Mauricio Sulaiman (@wbcmoro) November 4, 2025

It doesn’t matter if Ryan doesn’t receive a top 15 ranking with the WBC. He’s still going to be permitted to fight Barrios for the belt. Garcia’s popularity makes him suitable to fight for a world title ahead of the WBC mandatory challenger Souleymane Cissokho.

Garcia’s Popularity Factor

It’s obviously unfair, but boxing is a business. Ryan moves the needle and has a huge social media following on Instagram with 12 million followers. In contrast, the Senegal-born, France-based Souleymane isn’t well known in the U.S.

A fight between him and Mario Barrios wouldn’t sell on PPV. It would be a disaster on Amazon Prime Video PPV if PBC were to try to charge fans to watch—the reality of the sport. No one knows who Souleymane is, so he’s out in the cold.

I know, it’s tough for a 34-year-old like Cissokho to get passed over, especially when a fighter who hasn’t won a fight in two years since 2023 is given a title shot against Barrios. It’s brutal, and you can’t blame him if he’s seething with rage over this. That’s how it is.

The Underlying Reality

Let’s get this straight — the WBC didn’t forgive Ryan Garcia. It’s better for them that he’s reinstated. He’s like Fort Knox, pure gold in bringing in fans, and it’s more beneficial for the WBC if Ryan gets a hold of their welterweight title than an unknown fighter that Americans and fans in Mexico have never heard of.

The economic truth: Look at it this way. Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia sells. A fight between Barrios and Souleymane doesn’t. What makes it worse is that Souleymane would likely beat Barrios, and the WBC would have a champion holding their belt that U.S fans have no interest in watching. If Barrios is going to lose, it’s better for the WBC that it’s to Ryan. The way Mario has looked in his last two fights, he’s not going to make it past Souleyman without taking a loss.

Boxing is becoming more like the WWE now, and it’s more about who sells. The merit system that the sport used to operate on is disappearing and being replaced by fighters who bring in the dough. That’s why fighters like Ryan Garcia keep getting chances.

The WBC forgiving Ryan works for them, because he’s going to bring in the money. Having him hold their belt is great. It’s not about merit. It’s pure marketability, and it works better for the WBC.