Ryan Garcia’s career isn’t over—unless he chooses it to be.

Earlier this week, the New York State Athletic Commission handed Garcia a one-year suspension after he failed multiple drug tests prior to his highly anticipated match against Devin Haney in April. In addition to the suspension, he was compelled to forfeit his disclosed $1.2 million purse.

Although Garcia earned significantly more from the fight, forfeiting such a substantial amount is still impactful. He was also fined $10,000. The suspension, retroactive to the date of the fight on April 20, means Garcia will be sidelined for up to a year. Consequently, he’ll miss just one potential fight date. Given he fought in April, a return before October was unlikely anyway. Missing this window is unfortunate but not catastrophic, making his April 2025 return plausible.

During his suspension, Garcia will remain a prominent and controversial figure among boxing fans. At only 25 years old, he remains highly talented and popular. When he makes his comeback, he could be in his physical prime. His mental fitness is a bigger question mark, as Garcia has been candid about his mental health struggles but has also occasionally downplayed them.

Is Garcia genuinely struggling, or is it part of one of the most unusual plot twists in high-level boxing? If Garcia returns in April, it’s likely he’ll fight at welterweight or even light middleweight. Achieving 135 pounds seems unrealistic, and while 140 pounds is more feasible, Garcia has not yet committed to specific weight classes.