The issue is not that Garcia hits gloves. It is where he does it.
Garcia’s recent clips show him working in his Los Angeles home, filmed against clean white walls and marble floors. The setting looks closer to a luxury living room than a high-performance boxing gym. In isolation it can mean nothing. In context, it became part of a wider perception problem. While elite opponents grind through long camps in packed gyms, Garcia’s preparation appears informal and controlled. Structured less like a camp and more like content.
“Ryan Garcia doesn’t even look like he’s getting ready for a championship fight @RyanGarcia. You’re killing me,” Hitchins wrote on X.
Hitchins’ irritation is not random. He has been open about plans to move up to welterweight in 2026, with Garcia considered one of the money fights in that lane. That path depends on Garcia staying relevant. Seeing a potential future opponent by chance with preparation is bound to register.
There is also an extra layer of irony. Barrios recently teamed up Joe GoosenGarcia’s former coach. While Garcia posts controlled home workouts, his opponent prepares under a Hall of Fame boxing trainer, within a traditional gym environment built around repetition and structure.
Why Garcia chose to train at home was not explained. Some fans believe this reflects his superstar status and desire to avoid constant attention. Others see it as another example of a fighter relying on profile rather than process.
With a title fight looming, the optics matter. Hitchins is not alone in noticing the contrast.
Right now, one camp seems to be preparing for war. The other looks like he is preparing for a photo shoot.
