Oscar De La Hoya Discusses Golden Boy Promotions' Efforts to Clear Ryan Garcia's Name

Patrick Andres | May 14, 2024

May 7, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Former boxing champion Oscar De La Hoya. / Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

For almost the entirety of his professional career, American boxer Ryan Garcia has been under contract with Golden Boy Promotions. Multi-time world champion Oscar De La Hoya's company has watched Garcia blossom into a star, culminating in his winning the interim WBC lightweight title in Jan. 2021.

Now, the fighter and his promoter are facing their toughest test together yet. Garcia tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug after beating countryman Devin Haney by majority decision on April 20, and on Tuesday De La Hoya insisted to Sports Illustrated that his company is working to clear Garcia's name.

"All we can do is wait for the B-sample," De La Hoya said. "One isn't innocent until proven guilty. That's the country we live in. There is protocol we have to follow. We have to wait for the B-sample. There's really nothing we can do."

Garcia asked that a B-sample be tested on May 6.

"I feel myself that he is innocent," De La Hoya said. "I feel myself that Ryan went up in the ring with his talent and beat Devin Haney fair and square. (When) that B-sample comes in, we're gonna know what the next proper steps are."