The elder Garcia was an assistant the past seven years under three different trainers, but he’s back as the lead man for his son, who arguably is entering his most important fight to date. Garcia faces WBC welterweight titleholder Mario Barrios on Saturday night in the main event of “The Ring: High Stakes” at T-Mobile Arena on DAZN PPV.

“There's a lot of reasons, but ultimately, I just felt like it was the right move,” Garcia told The Ring on Wednesday. “My heart was telling me that it was the right move. I had three great trainers, Eddy [Reynoso], Joe [Goossen], [and] Derrick [James], and learned a lot from them. I think now it's just time to link back with my dad.

“My dad's always been there the whole time. It's not like it was a radical change or anything. I've dedicated this championship to my dad. I know this is going to mean the world to him [winning] the WBC title. I'm happy that my dad is the head trainer as I win this world title.”

Henry Garcia had been Ryan’s trainer since he began boxing at 8 years old. They stuck together through his first 16 pro bouts, their final fight being a majority decision over Carlos Morales in 2018.

Garcia (24-2, 20 KOs) teamed up with Canelo Alvarez and his trainer, Eddy Reynoso, in 2018, which forced Henry Garcia to take a step back. Their partnership proved fruitful, as Garcia stopped all five of his opponents with Reynoso. That included his most impressive win in 2021, when he got off the canvas to knock out Olympic gold medalist Luke Campbell in the seventh round.

That win was Garcia’s last fight with Reynoso. He then teamed up with Goossen, who will be in Barrios’ corner on Saturday. They were together for three fights and went 2-1. Their last fight together was Garcia’s seventh-round knockout defeat against Gervonta Davis in 2023.

After leaving Goossen, Garcia hired Derrick James for three fights and went 1-1, with one no contest. Their partnership also ended in a defeat when Garcia was upset by Rolando Romero by unanimous decision on May 2.

Henry Garcia said that working alongside Reynoso, Goossen and James helped him improve as a trainer, although he also believes his success with his son since he was a child proves he’s more than adequate as the chief second.

“I've done this since he was 8 years old and we went through 225 amateur fights, 15 national titles as an amateur and as a pro, [16-0, 13 KOs]. I humbled myself, and I decided let's just go with other people. Now we're back together.”

Ryan Garcia is at a crossroads against Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs). A victory would give him his first world championship and an abundance of potential big fights, including a meeting with four-division champion and Ring and WBO 140-pound titleholder Shakur Stevenson.

A loss would put Garcia in a tough spot, especially given that most believe he shouldn’t have received the title shot to begin with. The Victorville, California, native is the betting favorite (-250 according to DraftKings), but expecting the best version of him is a risky proposition, with his last win coming in 2023.

Whatever happens, father and son are pleased to be side by side again. And make no mistake: They are confident things will go their way, which would bring their boxing journey full circle.

“This is the best,” Henry Garcia said. “It's like an ending chapter, but a new beginning.”

Said the younger Garcia: “That will complete the dream for me. ... We've been on this journey together since I was 8. It just seems right to have my dad as the head trainer and win this title.”