Ryan Garcia is no stranger to high-stakes gambles, whether inside the boxing ring or away from it.
This time, however, the WBA welterweight champion came out on the losing side after placing a $100,000 bet on Mexico to defeat England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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The wager quickly became one of the more talked-about crossover stories linking boxing and soccer.
Garcia, who has often expressed pride in his Mexican heritage, confidently backed the tournament hosts ahead of their Round of 16 showdown with England at the iconic Estadio Azteca.
Instead, England produced one of the tournament’s biggest victories, defeating Mexico 3-2 despite playing with 10 men for part of the match.
Captain Harry Kane once again proved decisive as the Three Lions booked their place in the quarterfinals, ending Mexico’s previously unbeaten World Cup campaign.
The defeat was disappointing for Mexican supporters, but it also carried a financial consequence for Garcia.
Before kickoff, Garcia had challenged legendary British boxing promoter Frank Warren to a $100,000 wager, with both agreeing that the winner would select a charitable organization to receive the money.
After England secured the victory, boxing outlets quickly highlighted the outcome. One viral post declared, “NEVER BET AGAINST FRANK WARREN! 💰👀,” noting that Garcia had “thrown down a $100K challenge” only for England to emerge victorious.
Warren wasted little time reminding Garcia of the agreement.
Rather than celebrating the financial victory personally, the Queensberry Promotions founder publicly suggested two charities that could benefit from the donation: BoxWise, which uses boxing to support young people, and DEBRA UK, a charity that funds research and support for people living with epidermolysis bullosa.
The exchange reinforced that the wager was intended as a charitable contribution rather than a personal payday.
Garcia vows to earn redemption inside the boxing ring
Although Garcia lost the bet, he made it clear he has no intention of letting England have the last word.
Following the match, the American-Mexican boxer posted a message aimed at British contender Conor Benn.
“I promise I will defeat Conor Benn and redeem Mexico to the point where England won’t be able to wake up 😲🔥,” Garcia wrote, linking his sporting disappointment to a potential future fight.
While Garcia versus Benn has yet to be officially announced, the matchup has generated considerable interest within boxing circles.
Benn remains one of Britain’s top welterweights, while Garcia continues searching for marquee opponents after returning from suspension.
The wager with Warren is hardly the first time Garcia has embraced a public bet.
Earlier this year, he made headlines during a livestream after accepting a challenge from UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan.
Garcia attempted to knock down one of Tsarukyan’s teammates with a body shot for a $40,000 prize but failed, leading to another widely discussed dispute over the outcome.
Those recent setbacks contrast sharply with one of Garcia’s most famous wagers.
Ahead of his victory over Devin Haney, reports claimed Garcia placed a multimillion-dollar bet on himself to win the fight.
Although the exact figures have never been independently verified, multiple outlets reported that the gamble resulted in a massive payday after Garcia defeated Haney in the ring.
That victory, however, was later overshadowed when Garcia tested positive for a banned substance, leading to the fight being overturned to a no contest and resulting in a suspension and financial penalties.
Despite those controversies, Garcia remains one of boxing’s biggest attractions, known as much for his outspoken personality and activity on social media as for his speed and punching power.
Meanwhile, Frank Warren’s confidence in accepting the World Cup wager surprised few within the sport.
The veteran promoter has built a decades-long reputation for taking calculated risks, from record-breaking purse bids to major promotional events featuring some of boxing’s biggest names, including Tyson Fury and other world champions.
England’s victory over Mexico ultimately carried significance beyond the soccer field. It eliminated one of the tournament favorites, propelled the Three Lions into the quarterfinals, and created an unexpected storyline in the boxing world.
Now attention shifts back to Garcia’s own career. Whether a showdown with Conor Benn materializes remains to be seen, but after losing $100,000 on his World Cup prediction, the American star will undoubtedly be hoping his next high-profile gamble ends very differently.