"Y'all respect him now" - Ryan Garcia compares his mental state to Mike Tyson, says he saw "some sh*t he should've never seen"
Ryan Garcia recently likened his mental struggles to that of boxing legend Mike Tyson.
'KingRy' is poised to challenge WBC super lightweight champion Devin Haney in a 12-round bout set for this weekend (Saturday, April 20) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Since their fight was announced in February, Garcia's social media activity has been under intense scrutiny. Marked by a blend of controversial posts, including alarming allegations and enigmatic videos, it has raised concerns within the combat sports community, including 'The Dream'.
Speculation abounds that Garcia may be contending with substance abuse, grappling with mental health issues, or perhaps facing both simultaneously.
During a recent interview with boxing journalist Dan Canobbio, 'KingRy' addressed the persistent accusations surrounding his mental health struggles, which entailed making comparisons with those experienced by the former undisputed heavyweight champion:
"Yeah, I'm a little f**king mental, but I'm ready to destroy a motherf**ker. Y'all weren't talking sh*t about Mike Tyson when he was like this; y'all respect him now, right? Okay, then, so you're going to respect me? I have seen some sh*t I should have never seen, but I'm a killer."
Check out Ryan Garcia's comments below:
Tyson's documented admission of grappling with anger management issues and depression, as well as his journey toward overcoming them with the aid of psilocybin mushrooms and cannabis, is widely known.
Over the years, 'Iron Mike' has been candid about the trauma he has endured, acknowledging his struggles with suicidal thoughts and attributing his lack of self-control to these experiences.
When Ryan Garcia acknowledged his struggle with depression
In April 2021, Ryan Garcia announced on Instagram that he would be withdrawing from his upcoming bout with Javier Fortuna, stating that he needed to prioritize his mental health and overall well-being.
After his fight with Luke Campbell in January 2021, 'KingRy' confessed to battling depression but initially thought he could handle it on his own. However, as time went on, he recognized that his situation wasn't improving as he had hoped.
Subsequently, Garcia found himself immersed in a profound emotional battle. In a February 2022 interview with Inside Boxing Live (via Marca), the former interim WBC champion openly admitted reaching a point where he had lost all direction and motivation to continue living:
"When I was deep in it, I didn't think I was gonna live. I was so depressive, and I went into bad habits. I started drinking, and I never drink, ever. But I was getting drunk all the time. I wanted to kill myself at one point. It was so bad, so intense, that I thought maybe I just rather not be here."
Check out Ryan Garcia's interview below: