Ryan Garcia has “serious” hand injuries, delaying Nov. 27 fight with Joseph Diaz Jr.

Ryan Garcia’s difficulty in returning to the ring continues as the promotion announced on Friday evening that the 23-year-old had a hand injury and the match with Joseph Diaz Jr. was scheduled to be postponed to November 27. The news has come just over a week since the fight was officially announced.

Garcia was due to face Javier Fortuna on July 9 when he retired to focus on his mental health. Garcia made some criticisms at the time that despite the young star not being a fully committed boxer despite Luke Campbell’s dramatic January knockout, Garcia rose from the canvas in the fight after suffering a savage blow. Garcia’s speed and skills have been clear but the embrace of social media has attracted negative attention from some corners of the boxing world.

Fighting with Diaz would be the first time Garcia will face a former world champion. Diaz is a former featherweight and super featherweight champion and won the WBC provisional lightweight title in his final fight to make an extensive decision over Fortune instead of Garcia.

Garcia will undergo surgery on Monday for his injury and is expected to be sidelined in 2022.

“I want to thank my fans for their continued support” said Garcia. “We are delaying the next fight for a couple of months due to a serious hand injury that needs surgery. I will have surgery on Monday in Cedars-Sinain. I promise I will return better, faster and stronger than at the beginning of the 22nd. Never. I love you!”