Prominent Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has delivered a surprising prediction regarding the heavily discussed matchup between Ryan Garcia and undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, revealing that, to his understanding, the blockbuster encounter is practically a done deal.
The matchup, which has sent ripples through the combat sports community, has captured the attention of fans and pundits alike, largely due to the unique stakes involved and the legendary figures attached to the promotion. Ryan Garcia, a dynamic and high-profile star in the sport, has recently taken to social media to declare his willingness to put his WBC welterweight championship strap on the line in a fully sanctioned professional contest. Rather than taking the traditional route of defending his world title against a conventional, world-rated contender from the rankings, Garcia appears to be chasing an entirely different kind of legacy-defining achievement.
At the heart of Garcia’s ambition is a genuine desire to challenge and potentially scupper Floyd Mayweather’s iconic, unblemished 50-0 professional record. Beyond protecting his own standing as a reigning champion, Garcia is seemingly eager to secure a definitive victory over a Hall of Famer, which would allow him to proudly claim that he technically boasts a professional victory over one of the greatest fighters to ever lace up a pair of gloves.
However, the reality of the situation brings forth considerable skepticism from purists and analysts. Mayweather has not competed in a legitimate professional boxing match since 2017. Even that high-profile bout—a 10th-round technical knockout victory over MMA megastar Conor McGregor—was widely categorized by the boxing establishment as a glorified, high-stakes exhibition match rather than a true test of championship-level competition. Since stepping away from the professional ranks, Mayweather has continued to participate in a lucrative series of exhibition bouts across the globe, keeping his name relevant in the combat sports headlines while avoiding the grueling rigors of a sanctioned training camp and championship weight limits.
Despite Mayweather’s long layoff from professional competition and the significant age disparity, Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn has expressed a distinct perspective on the matter. Speaking directly to Boxing News, Hearn admitted that while he generally dislikes seeing fighters of Mayweather’s stature engage in exhibition contests, he would fully support a legitimate return if it meant fighting a top-tier active champion like Garcia.
Hearn did not hesitate to offer his candid assessment of the prospective bout, dropping a prediction that has surprised many followers of the sport. Even at the age of 49, Hearn firmly believes that Mayweather possesses the skill, ring IQ, and veteran savvy necessary to successfully dethrone Garcia. This potential showdown comes hot on the heels of Garcia’s explosive performance last month, which saw him secure a devastating second-round finish over Conor Benn.
Refining his thoughts on the unfolding situation, Hearn shared his candid outlook with Boxing News, stating that he hates seeing Floyd Mayweather do these exhibitions, but if he wants to come back and fight Ryan Garcia, he is all for it because that represents a real fight. Hearn further emphasized the legitimacy of the matchup by pointing out that it involves a reigning, active WBC champion at 147 pounds. Delivering his surprising prediction, Hearn added that, by the way, he thinks Floyd beats him, but to come back and actually do it remains a sign of true greatness. Concluding his assessment of the promotional landscape, Hearn confirmed that, as he understands it, the matchup between Ryan Garcia and Floyd Mayweather is officially on.
While Hearn strongly suspects that the event will indeed come to fruition and move forward as planned, critical questions remain regarding the administrative hurdles surrounding the fight. Specifically, it remains to be seen whether Mayweather will be fully cleared and legally positioned to participate in a high-profile sanctioned bout following the multi-million dollar lawsuit recently filed against him by CSI Sports. As the boxing world awaits official confirmation and regulatory updates regarding the status of the bout, the prospect of Ryan Garcia putting his WBC welterweight title on the line against an undefeated, 49-year-old Hall of Famer continues to dominate conversations across the international sports media landscape.
