“He’s Gonna Have a Hard Time”: Roy Jones Jr. Remains Honest on Changes Ryan Garcia Needs to Fight “Upper Echelon” Fighters, Including Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney

Ryan Garcia appears to be at the top of his game. A year ago, however, things were different. When ‘King Ry’ came face to face with Gervonta Davis now known as Abdul Wahid, in April last year, the fight did not go his way. He has won against Oscar Duarte since then, but the loss against Tank exposed Ryan Garcia as someone who is not in the conversation when it comes to the best of the best. Was the loss against Tank just an outcome of the rehydration clause or is there more to the story?

It was in that fight that many in the boxing world saw a huge flaw in Garcia’s fighting style. And this huge weakness was none other than his powerful left hook. After relying on his left hook to clinch victories for so long, it turned out that Garcia had neglected other important aspects, according to Roy Jones Jr. So what does Garcia need to do here?

Roy Jones Jr. mentions Bernard Hopkins while advising Ryan Garcia on what to do

In a recent interview with FightHype.com, legendary boxer Roy Jones Jr. acknowledged Garcia’s prowess, stating, “I like Ryan a lot, I think Ryan’s an awesome fighter.” However, he pinpointed a crucial issue in Garcia’s game plan, emphasizing the predictability of his left hook. Jones noted that to succeed against elite opponents, Garcia must diversify his skill set to keep his opponents guessing. His dependence on the hook may become a crutch for him, according to Jones. “So until he get something else to be able to disguise that left hook or something else to make people worry about- he’s gonna have a hard time.”

RJ addressed the concerns Ryan Garcia needs to rectify before going up against top-tier fighters like Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez. Highlighting the potential struggles he may face against them, Jones said, “With the upper echelon fighters, the regular fighters- he’s gonna kill ‘em… But the guys who know not to get hit with the left hook like ‘Tank’ did, it’s going to be a problem.”

When asked about the difficulty of making such changes at Garcia’s level, Jones drew inspiration from Bernard Hopkins who according to Jones managed to sustain in the game for a long time because “he kept changing the arsenal.” Highlighting that age should not be a barrier to evolving one’s skill set. He challenged Garcia’s commitment to winning, stating, “If you want to win bad enough, you’ll do it.”

Jones emphasized that making these changes requires more dedication and effort than most fighters are ready to give, something that KingRy will have to do as well if he wishes to go up against the best in the sport. So is Ryan preparing for his next fight? Not at the moment. At the moment there is drama brewing.

Ryan Garcia’s verbal spat with Romero and Cruz

Ryan Garcia and Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero have set their sights on Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz for upcoming fights at the 140 weight class, sparking debates among fans. Critics argue that their choice implies a reluctance to face stronger contenders within the 140-lb division, opting instead for seemingly more manageable opponents from the lightweight category.

Garcia’s recent social media activity adds fuel to the speculation, particularly a tweet where he directly addresses Cruz and Romero fighting each other. Jemel Herring shared a screen grab of his post which read, “At the end of the day rollies and pitbull do what you want. I don’t need any of you. At all. None of you you want to fight, and make the biggest purse of your life not my problem go ahead and fight between yourselves.“ Herring’s caption took a dig at Garcia. He wrote, “Someone please explain his mindset here…”

Read More: Ryan Garcia “Ready to Start Camp” After Latest Photo Dump Draws Trainer Derrick James’ Response

As the drama unfolds, fans eagerly await clarity on the matchmaking decisions and whether Garcia’s words will translate into action inside the ring. But for now Garcia remains without an opponent.

Watch This Story: Teofimo Lopez Reveals Why He Declined The $1.5 Million Ryan Garcia Fight Offer