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Exclusive: Mauricio Sulaiman admires 'courageous step' taken by Ryan Garcia

Ryan Garcia is WBC's interim champion

"We are supporting him and we congratulate him for taking this courageous step which will help many others who have anxiety and mental health issues to step up and be not afraid to say it."

Mauricio Sulaiman has given his full support to Ryan Garcia as he continues to make 'steps forward' from his battle with depression and anxiety.

"King Ry" - the most exciting prospect in world boxing - was expected to return to the ring next month against Javier Fortuna but withdrew to focus on his health and wellbeing.

"I know this news may be disappointing to some of my fans but I am announcing today that I am withdrawing from my July 9th fight," Garcia informed his 8.6 million followers on Instagram.

"At this time it is important to manage my health and wellbeing. I have decided to take some time off to focus on becoming a stronger version of myself.
"I hope to be back soon and am looking forward to stepping back into the ring when I am my healthiest self. I want to Thank God, my family, my doctors and my supporters."

Garcia has updated fans on Mental Health Awareness Week and revealed he is in a much better place mentally.

"Thank you to everyone showing their support! With the help of my support team and my family, I'm making steps forward.
"Why anxiety and depression hit me like a truck and why I'm still recovering I'll never know. But I'm trying to cope with the issues I'm having!
"This bag is my anxiety and I'm swinging with my full intent to destroy it!"

Garcia - boxing's most marketable athlete - last fought in January, where he extended his unbeaten record to 21-0 with an incredible knockout of 2012 Olympic gold-medalist Luke Campbell.

The 22-year-old rallied back after being sent to the canvas and ended proceedings in round seven with a thunderous hook to the body.
Sulaiman has praised Garcia for his decision and admitted he has been in contact with the boxing sensation.

"Since day one, we reached out to him and we are continually trying to monitor how he is doing," the WBC president exclusively told Planet Sport.

"Of course he is asking for space. We are supporting him and we congratulate him for taking this courageous step which will help many others who have anxiety and mental health issues to step up and be not afraid to say it because it is something that can happen to anyone in the world."

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