The WBC welterweight champion, Ryan Garcia, has inspired numerous fighters over the course of his career. The professional boxer continues to guide emerging martial artists like Kota Miura.

The Japanese MMA fighter and kickboxer recently threw light on how Garcia shaped his boxing journey and pictures of the duo in the gym.

"My road as a boxer started 🥊🔥 Thank you brother 🙏🏻," The 27 June post was captioned.

Although Miura has yet to make his professional boxing debut, the footballer-turned-combat artist has shared multiple training sessions with the boxing champ. The pair shared a mitts workout and a strength-and-conditioning gym session.

Fighting out of Hyogo, Miura has already racked up two impressive wins, one against Bunchuai Phosungnoen by armbar and the other against Yushi Sakura by TKO.

However, following his recent 3-fight losing skid, all by TKOs, Miura has recalibrated his training to have a more striking, and especially boxing-centered approach.

Miura promised to return to the ring by the end of this year. And training with Garcia will likely be a source of motivation for him to return stronger than before.

However, Miura and Garcia's relationship isn't limited to just combat grind.

Ryan Garcia and team tour Tokyo with Kota Miura

Before Garcia's first decisive title defense, the boxer hopped onto a tour to Tokyo, training alongside Miura while also making unforgettable memories.

In his recent June photo dump on Instagram, 'King Ryan' shared snaps of Tokyo Disneyland, comforting bowls of ramen, and hangouts with Miura.

"My Tokyo dump 🇯🇵🇯🇵 I recommend visiting Japan 10/10
If you are there try KOBE BEEF I went there 100 times
I have so much more on my camera roll but I could only post 20
Now is the time for war…. #sept12," Garcia captioned the post.

Garcia's post revealed a more touristy side of his Japan tour and shed light on his friendship with Miura. The fighters even mimicked a traditional samurai experience, flaunting their impressive katana skills.

Miura's Instagram was more focused on Garcia's team dynamics and learning experience together. "I love this team," Miura wrote, sharing video clips of Garcia teaching him an uppercut sequence.

Miura also hosted a fan meet in Tokyo with Ryan Garcia, showcasing their mutual respect. But the boxer has more challenging days ahead in store for him.

As Garcia wrote in his photo dump, "Now is the time for war." According to ESPN reports, Garcia is scheduled to go up against Conor Benn on September 12, 2026, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

And defending his WBC welterweight world title against the British welterweight menace, who has 25 wins and only one loss, will be no easy task.

Are you rooting for Ryan Garcia in his title defense?

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Written by

Proma Chatterjee

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit