The $40,000 bet between WBC super lightweight champion Ryan Garcia and UFC fighter Arman Tsarukyan is back in the spotlight. The American boxer has openly stated he has no intention of paying the money he lost to Arman.
The conflict began in April. At that time, a $40,000 bet was placed on whether Garcia could knock down one of Arman Tsarukyan's friends with a body shot. The boxer had two attempts but failed to drop his opponent. Despite this, the lost sum has not yet been paid to Tsarukyan.
In an interview with Complex, Ryan Garcia explained why he is refusing to pay. He stated that the situation seemed suspicious to him from the start. The boxer initially wanted to hit Arman himself, but the UFC fighter said that would not be fair.
“I’m not giving him a single dollar. Arman told me: 'No, brother, that’s not fair because I’m a fighter and I can defend against strikes.' Then suddenly, a random guy who looked like a bodyguard appeared. That’s when I felt something was wrong,” Garcia said.
The boxer noted that he was only allowed to strike a specific spot and did not want to hit hard because he did not fully understand the situation. Garcia said these conditions felt uncomfortable and strange to him, which is why he felt cheated.
“I only hit him twice, even though I was supposed to hit him three times. Then I thought: 'No, this is some kind of nonsense. I don't like this.' After that, I said 'fine, I'll pay,' but deep down I felt I was being scammed,” he added.
Garcia believes Arman Tsarukyan intentionally put him in an uncomfortable position. For this reason, he does not intend to pay the $40,000. The boxer even issued a sharp challenge to Tsarukyan.
“Arman, listen. If you want that money, come and try to get it. It’s in my pocket!” Garcia said.
Following these remarks, the conflict between the two athletes may escalate further. On one side is the UFC fighter demanding the money, and on the other is the boxer who feels he was “trapped.” In short, more than just $40,000 is at stake here — it’s about reputation, character, and principles between athletes.
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