Ryan Garcia now has company among suspended fighters who will go the exhibition route to end the year

RIZIN officials confirmed that Curmel Moton will appear on the Dec. 31 RIZIN 49: Decade event at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama Japan. Moton (6-0, 5 knockouts)—an 18-year-old blue chip prospect—will face the Philippines’ Albert Pagara (35-1, 24 KOs) in an exhibition match scheduled for eight, three-minute rounds.

The previously announced show features Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs; 1 No-Contest) versus Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo in an exhibition bout scheduled for eight, two-minute rounds. Garcia is currently suspended by the New York State Athletic Commission from his positive drug tests surrounding his April 20 No-Contest versus Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KOs; 1 NC; No. 2 at 140 by The Ring) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. New York.

Moton’s placement on the New Year’s Eve show comes as he was placed under indefinite suspension by the New Jersey State Athletic Commission (NJSAC). The Las Vegas-based boxer—who is promoted by Mayweather Promotions—was pulled from a scheduled Nov. 30 bout in Atlantic City, though the exact reason for both his removal and subsequent suspension remain unclear.

It was well documented that Moton was more than 15 pounds above the 133-pound contracted limit versus Bryan Mercado during the official pre-fight weigh-in last Friday. Moton alleged that his bloodwork was misplaced earlier in the week and that he already knew his fight would get canceled. The decision to no longer cut weight was attributed to his excessively high tally at the scales.

However, The Ring has learned that the suspension placed by the New Jersey commission has more to do with an ongoing investigation regarding the steps leading to that point. The issue with his blood was not misplaced, but more so the unconfirmed results.

Messages left with NJSAC officials by The Ring were not returned as this goes to publication.

Moton turned pro last Sept. 30 at age 17 on the Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez-Jermell Charlo undercard at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The transition from a standout amateur career was initially seamless as he scored consecutive first-round knockout wins over unbeaten opposition.

A far stiffer test was offered in his third pro bout. Moton went all eight rounds in a unanimous decision victory over undefeated Anthony Cuba on the March 30 Sebastian Fundora-Tim Tszyu undercard also at T-Mobile. The competition level was significantly lowered in each of his three subsequent bouts, a second-round knockout and a pair of first-round stoppages.

Moton stopped Hilario Martinez at just 95 seconds into their Oct. 12 clash at 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. The event was presented by Swift Promotions, headed by former two-division titlist Danny Garcia (37-4, 21 KOs). Swift Promotions took the lead for the Nov. 30 event as well, but its statement on Moton’s removal read as more of an apology to the boxer than an explanation as to why he couldn’t fight.

Garcia-Anpo and Moton-Pagara are part of a 13-fight event that will begin at noon on New Year’s Eve in Saitama. (Monday Dec. 30, 9:00 pm ET).

The show also includes Garcia’s younger brother Sean (7-1-1, 2 KOs), who faces Amado Vargas (11-0, 5 KOs)—son of former 154-pound titlist Fernando Vargas—in an exhibition bout scheduled for eight, three-minute rounds. Vargas beat the younger Garcia via sixth-round knockout in a sanctioned pro bout on the July 7 Jorge Masvidal-Nate Diaz undercard in Anaheim, California.

Garcia and Moton are unable to appear on any show in the U.S. under Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) rules given their respective suspensions. Garcia is banned through at least next April 20, while Moton's situation is far more fluid given the ongoing investigation.