After his victory at UFC 292 the renowned UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley revealed his interest in transitioning to the boxing ring with Ryan Garcia. While he initially expressed a preference for facing Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, circumstances evolved, leading to a potential rivalry with the notable boxer, Ryan ‘KingRy’ Garcia. In a recent update from the 25-year-old boxer, Garcia added another layer to the already intense feud between these two prominent figures in combat sports.
The question of whether UFC CEO Dana White will agree to a Sean O’Malley vs. Ryan Garcia boxing fight remains uncertain. While Garcia has expressed his willingness to face O’Malley in the boxing ring, White’s approval depends on various factors.
UFC’s contractual obligations, the potential impact on O’Malley’s MMA career, and the financial terms involved are all considerations that White and the UFC would need to evaluate before agreeing to such a crossover bout. Additionally, White’s stance on fighters participating in events outside the UFC could influence his decision regarding O’Malley’s potential boxing match against Garcia. Ultimately, White’s approval would hinge on whether he sees the fight as beneficial for the UFC and its fighters.
Approximately two weeks ago, Garcia took aim at his rival, the UFC bantamweight champion when a fan of ‘Sugar’ provoked him on Instagram. However, this time, Garcia chose Elon Musk’s platform for a similar purpose. Along with his post, Garcia included a mocking caption to further emphasize his stance.
“Alright rainbow head, There is only one way to find out… Dana let’s do this”
The latest update from Garcia showed that the feud between him and O’Malley primarily unfolded on Instagram. However, the platform itself is not the critical factor here. Whether it’s on ‘X’ or Instagram, the rivalry between the two could escalate to an actual clash.
Considering the recent developments, a potential showdown between O’Malley and Garcia doesn’t appear to be out of reach anymore. However, as Garcia pointed out, for the fight to come to fruition, another individual besides ‘Sugar’ and ‘KingRy’ will need to play a significant role.
Is Dana White Likely to Approve a Boxing Match Between Sean O’Malley and Ryan Garcia?
Despite Dana White’s viral statements declaring “we don’t co-promote”, the UFC CEO contradicted himself in 2017. At that time, the 54-year-old collaborated with Stephen Espinoza to co-promote the highly anticipated ‘Money Fight’ between UFC star Conor McGregor and boxing legend Floyd Mayweather.
The current situation suggests that history could repeat itself. Many fans speculate that UFC authorities might be inclined to promote Sean O’Malley in a manner similar to how they promoted McGregor in the past.
Given that ‘Sugar’ O’Malley holds a UFC championship now, Dana White might see the potential for significant financial gains by co-promoting the fight. White has already deviated from his previous stance, co-promoting the McGregor-Mayweather fight. Thus, he may not be deterred by contradicting his words once more. Consequently, the prospect of a highly anticipated boxing match between Sean O’Malley and Ryan Garcia seems increasingly likely in the future.