Ryan Garcia Faces WBC Discipline After Reinstatement

Boxer's return to sanctioning body comes with renewed scrutiny over weight and administrative rules.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Boxer Ryan Garcia has drawn discipline from the World Boxing Council (WBC) just weeks after being reinstated to the organization. Garcia missed a mandatory weight submission deadline, leading the WBC to issue a warning and financial penalty. This comes at a sensitive time for Garcia, who was recently welcomed back by the WBC after a prior expulsion for using racial slurs on social media. The WBC has shown it will strictly enforce its rules, putting Garcia's upcoming title fight against Rolando Romero under increased scrutiny.

Why it matters

Garcia's return to the WBC fold was seen as a chance to rebuild his reputation, but this administrative misstep has put his professionalism back under the microscope. The WBC has demonstrated it will not hesitate to discipline fighters, even top contenders, for failing to follow its procedures, which could impact Garcia's ability to compete for a title.

The details

Despite making weight, Garcia missed the deadline to submit the required video footage of him on the scales. This triggered an immediate response from WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman, who warned Garcia's team that failing to provide the video would lead to a public statement and involvement of the athletic commission. Garcia quickly complied to avoid further punishment beyond the financial penalty.

  • On February 14, 2026, the WBC announced disciplinary action against Ryan Garcia.
  • Garcia was recently reinstated to the WBC after a prior expulsion in July 2024 for using racial slurs on social media.

The players

Ryan Garcia

A professional boxer who competes in the lightweight division and was recently reinstated to the WBC after a prior expulsion.

Mauricio Sulaiman

The President of the World Boxing Council (WBC), the sanctioning body that has disciplined Garcia.

Rolando Romero

The boxer Garcia is scheduled to fight for the WBC title.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The WBC has scheduled one more mandatory weight check for Garcia just seven days before his title fight against Romero on February 21. Garcia's ability to comply with the WBC's rules will remain under heavy scrutiny throughout fight week.

The takeaway

This case highlights the WBC's strict enforcement of its administrative rules, even for top contenders like Garcia. It underscores the importance of professionalism and compliance in boxing, as Garcia's title opportunity hinges on his ability to follow the WBC's remaining requirements before stepping into the ring.