Ryan Garcia lifts lid on Jake Paul offer, insists ‘I wasn’t gonna accept that’

Jake Paul was set to face Gervonta Davis in an exhibition bout on November 14 before Davis’ most recent legal woes led to the fight being cancelled. Attention quickly turned to who would be next, with Anthony Joshua, Ryan Garcia, and Terence Crawford, among others, linked to facing Paul.

Paul vs. Joshua was eventually announced, and Garcia has now spoken to Covers.com, revealing the offer he received and his current priority.

Ryan Garcia discusses Jake Paul offer and his immediate focus

Since Joshua was confirmed as the replacement for Davis, Garcia is seemingly moving closer to a world title shot against Mario Barrios. Discussing the offer he received to face Paul, and his priority, Garcia said:

“I didn’t take the Jake Paul fight because I had the Barrios fight lined up, so I showed you. I had $20 million offered. I went with Barrios for less, so that’s to show you right now, I’m not even worried about that right now. And that’s a stupid matchup [for me]. He’s 220 pounds, for damn’s sake. What are we talking about? I’m not going to let this dude think he’s that good because he’s a heavyweight and trying to fight 135-pounders. 

“People are not going to think I’m good unless I knock him out. How am I going to knock out a 220-pound dude that somewhat knows how to box? Yeah, I could catch them, but they’re trying to fight with 12-ounce gloves. I’m trying to fight with 8-ounce. Let me have 8-ounce. You could have 12-ounce. That’s fair. You got the weight, I get the four ounces in gloves.”

Ryan Garcia opens up on rejecting Jake Paul offer

Discussing his reasons for rejecting the offer from Paul, Ryan Garcia said:

“I definitely would consider it. 100%. I’d be stupid if I didn’t. It’s insane [that they offered AJ $70 Million but me $20 Million], that was the first offer. I wasn’t gonna accept that, but I cut it down really short. But who knows? Maybe I would still deny the $70 Million. Sometimes money is not everything, right? You start chasing money, you’ll do anything for money. 

“That’s how I see it. You start doing things for money, you’ll do anything for money. So I feel the money for me is always gonna be there. I live a great life. I have nothing to complain about. I don’t need more, I don’t need less. What’s the point? I get more money then what, a bigger house? What does that mean? I have more cars, what does that mean?”

It’s difficult to now envisage a world where Ryan Garcia faces Jake Paul. With Garcia closing in on a world title opportunity against Barrios, an exhibition against Paul appears unlikely, especially if “Kingry” wins the world title. If he were to lose to Barrios, a big payday against Paul becomes a more realistic option.