Before the fight: Return of the macks Ryan Garcia and Gennadiy Golovkin

Like the Mark Morrison song ‘Return of the Mack,’ boxers Ryan Garcia and Gennadiy Golovkin are ready to end long layoffs and return to the ring. 

Outside of Savannah Marshall’s three-round destruction of Femke Herman’s, the previous boxing weekend was slow, but Saturday, April 9, highlights a busy month with the return of Ryan Garica and Gennadiy Golovkin.

Garcia and Golovkin are boxing stars that some feel have something left to prove after long layoffs. Garcia hasn’t fought in 15 months, and Golvkin’s absence lasted 16 months.

Garcia and Golovkin need the work to stay fresh, but neither fighter has anything to prove. They’re athletic talents with undeniable ability.

Frustration from fans is understandable. Nobody wants to see elite boxers like Garcia and Golovkin on the shelf for over a year, but they’re human.

Life doesn’t follow a boxing schedule, and both faced adversity.

Garcia (21-0, 18 KOs) has exceptional potential at only 23 years old. His round 7 TKO of Luke Campbell in January 2021 was the highlight of his career.

On paper, Garcia’s career appeared to be going to plan, but Garcia courageously admitted battling mental health problems that forced him to cancel a fight against Javier Fortuna.

Many supported Garcia’s candidness, while others on social media criticized the legitimacy of his health problems.

Some used his social media posts enjoying the beach with his girlfriend to attack his declaration. It further exemplified the criticism Garcia and many professional athletes regularly face.

Watch Gennadiy Golovkin vs. Ryota Murata on April 9 on DAZN at 5:10 a.m. ET and Ryan Garcia vs. Emmanuel Tagoe jumps off at 9 p.m. ET on DAZN

Garcia is incredibly young, but many fans have no patience. They want to see him become a champion immediately.

That’s unfair. Garcia deserves the benefit of taking his career at his own pace.

Numerous athletes burn out early in their careers due to external pressure to live up to fantastic expectations. The people that questioned Garcia’s motives were the ones that exacerbated his issues in the first place, further qualifying his rationale to take a break from boxing.

Garcia is a very good boxer who’s also a constant target in a social media-driven society. Despite all that has been said, ‘King Ry’ seems to be in a good place going into his DAZN main event against Emmanuel Tagoe.

“Now I’m at the point where I’m going to do amazing when I get into the ring,” Garcia said during a media workout. “I’ve done all the promotion I can. I’m going to be the best I can be. You have to trust that gut feeling which most guys don’t.”

Golovkin’s (41-1-1, 36 KOs) career is in a very different stage than Garcia’s. He’s 40 years old and nearing the twilight phase. Yet, Golovkin has also had his fair share of critics.

Golovkin’s original fight date against Ryota Murata was postponed due to COVID, and now the two meet in Murata’s home country of Japan at Super Arena.

Murata’s not the most formidable opponent, but fighting in his backyard is admirable. Golovkin appears to be treading water until given a trilogy bout with Canelo Alvarez.

Fans want Golovkin to fight a more challenging opponent like Jermall Charlo, but boxing politics and career strategy are challenging factors to navigate. Golovkin isn’t the same fighter he was five years ago, but he still punches with ferocity.

Golovkin is a longtime world champion whose accomplishments shine. Anything he does from here on out is a bonus.

Most are out of the game well before 40, but Golovkin is still here. On the other end, few boxers are as skilled or accomplished by 23 as Garcia is.

Golovkin knows how to block voices out, and Garcia is learning that trick. Both return to the ring on April 9, but neither has anything to prove.

Their previous success warrants respect, and they seem comfortable fighting for themselves and not others.