"They Wanted A Bad Guy, So I Became One" - Ryan Garcia - #1097
5/14/20261 hr 19 min
Ryan Garcia is a professional boxer and a WBC interim lightweight champion. What’s it like being the bad boy of boxing? Most people know Ryan Garcia from the chaos of his social media — the outbursts, controversies, and viral moments. But behind the headlines is still an elite fighter operating at the very top of the sport. So who is Ryan Garcia away from the internet? What’s it like living under that level of pressure, fame, and scrutiny whilst trying to remain a world champion? Expect to learn how Ryan grew up and why he started boxing from a very young age, the most memorable moments of Ryan’s career, when Ryan figured out his life trajectory had gone too far the wrong way, if anger really helps you as a boxer, Ryan’s thoughts on Jake Paul, Conor Benn, McGregor and others, if Ryan has fears about future CTE issues and much more… Sponsors: See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: https://chriswillx.com/deals Get 160+ lab tests for just $365 and save an extra $25 at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom Get a free bottle of D3K2, an AG1 Welcome Kit, and more when you first subscribe at https://ag1.info/modernwisdom Get 15% off your first order of my favourite Non-Alcoholic Brew at https://athleticbrewing.com/modernwisdom Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom Timestamps: (0:00) Do Boxers Actually Think in the Ring? (0:48) Can Ryan Remember His Fights? (4:10) The Sacrifices You Have to Make to Be the Best (7:44) Why Ryan Started Boxing (10:47) The Biggest Lessons From Ryan’s Career (12:17) When Ryan Realised He Was Crashing Out (18:57) The Story Behind the Bohemian Grove Vision (21:53) What Really Happens at Bohemian Grove? (26:22) Does Anger Make You a Better Fighter? (30:23) Will Ryan Fight Conor Benn? (32:32) Is the Zuffa Deal Good For Boxing? (38:11) The Main Reason Fights Don’t Happen (40:24) How the Ali Act is Changing Boxing (41:20) Is Jake Paul a Legitimate Boxer? (47:39) Are Mayweather and Pacquiao Past It? (51:00) How Ryan Changed His Attitude Towards Money (55:34) Why It’s So Important to Have a Good Team Around You (01:00:41) Could Conor McGregor Make a Comeback? (01:05:37) Is Ryan Worried About the Long-Term Impacts of Boxing? (01:09:35) How Boxers Stay Ready for Anything Extra Stuff: Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: https://chriswillx.com/books Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom Episodes You Might Enjoy: #577 - David Goggins - This Is How To Master Your Life: lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins #712 - Dr Jordan Peterson - How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs: lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson #700 - Dr Andrew Huberman - The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain: lnkfi.re/SN-Huberman
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsChris Williamson· Host0:00
I'm fascinated by you saying that you don't think when you're in the ring.
Ryan Garcia· Guest0:03
Mm-mm.
Chris Williamson· Host0:04
What's happening?
Ryan Garcia· Guest0:04
Uh, I'm just picking up on cues really. Um, and then kind of like there's these instincts and intuition that are g- just kinda there, you know? Like, oh, may- like, you kinda get a feeling where, okay, I need to start putting pressure on this man, or I need to, you know, uh, move a little bit. It's just like kinda momentum shifts that you're kinda noticing little by little.
Chris Williamson· Host0:24
Mm-hmm.
Ryan Garcia· Guest0:24
And then, um, there's obviously times where I'm thinking. Like, sometimes I'll just have, like, mantras in my head, like, that I've done in camp, you know, uh, stay focused. Like, our last fight, the whole time when I was fighting him, I would just say like, "Stay focused, stay focused, stay focused."
Chris Williamson· Host0:37
Mm-hmm.
Ryan Garcia· Guest0:37
You know? So it was just like little things that I would say in my mind, but I'm not really necessarily thinking.
Chris Williamson· Host0:42
Mm. Not thinking.
Ryan Garcia· Guest0:43
But thinking.
Chris Williamson· Host0:46
[chuckles] But yeah, of course.
Ryan Garcia· Guest0:47
Yeah.
Chris Williamson· Host0:49
Does that mean when you look back on a fight, how much of it can you remember?
Ryan Garcia· Guest0:52
Mm, the pivotable moments, like, um, like my last fight, uh, I remember I started getting comfortable in like the 11th round, just messing with the guy, smacking him, looking at the trainer, and then lowering my hand a little bit and then, you know, tasting a right hand. And I was like, "Don't do that." [chuckles] And then kinda like snapping myself back in. So I remember those moments. I remember, you know, when I dropped him. But I mean, for the most part, I, I have to like look back at the fight to really recall most of it.
Chris Williamson· Host1:24
Isn't that strange?
Ryan Garcia· Guest1:25
It is weird.
Chris Williamson· Host1:25
It's so strange. So I'm friends with musicians, comedians,