3 Possible Opponents for Ryan Garcia After Devin Haney Upset

Ryan Garcia did the unthinkable against Devin Haney, and as a result, he might be the hottest property in boxing right now. He broke the internet with his shenanigans, carried the promotion on his back, and is in the driving seat to negotiate better terms with his opponent. So, naturally, the question arises. Who will he fight next?

Well, everyone wants a piece of ‘KingRy’ as he can ensure a hefty paycheck for his opponent. Despite a long list of potential suitors, we have picked some names, given their history and current relevance. Who sits atop the American boxer’s hit list? Let’s start with the most logical one.

Ryan Garcia vs. Isaac Cruz: a champion’s ambition

When the 25-year-old boxer’s camp soaked in success, they already had a name they wanted. Isaac Cruz, 25, is the current WBA super lightweight champion after he put in a dominant display against Rolando Romero last month. If you believe in ‘styles make fights’, you need to keep tabs on this one.

Henry Garcia has already publicly disclosed his desire to match his son with the ‘Pitbull’. It all depends on his son. While the two share a history, it is also the perfect fight for him to take on a champion and finally add a gold strap around his waist. But does the California native have championship aspirations anymore? It doesn’t seem so. He simply wants to fight the best, and Cruz, at 26-2-1, fits the bill.

You can also put aside the concerns of titles and weight classes. It’s about what people want to see. Even if this fight is fought at a catchweight of 143, fans will flock to watch it live. Carnage and exciting action will be on display if they clash in the boxing ring. But if you want more flare, you want him to fight a high-caliber fighter. We have another champion from 140.

Teofimo Lopez: reigning the top dogs at 140

Lopez vs. Garcia has all the markings of a big business fight. The two have prodigal trash-talking skills that they can back up with action in the ring. Both have utilized the internet to sell out their fights. As Garcia, at 25-1, announced earlier, they will break the internet.

Moreover, the two were once close to signing a fight deal last year, but talks fell through because of differences about the purse split. ‘The Takeover’ will happily invite Garcia to the East Coast and might target breaking the live gate record at the Barclays Center again. Add Lopez’s connection with Brooklyn, and you have a fight that is guaranteed to rack up hundreds of millions in revenue. What if Garcia has something else on his mind?

The wildcards: Devin Haney rematch, ‘Boots’ Ennis, or a jump to 154?

The dust on Haney vs. Garcia hasn’t settled yet. The fans are still exhilarated, and you can’t blame them. So are the fighters. They left the ring with the resolve to run it back. However, it might be a far stretch. ‘The Dream’ still has his WBC title that he needs to defend. Meanwhile, the Victorville native has clarified that his body can’t go lower than 143. The only way is up and at 147.

It seems Garcia has already floated the idea of going after Errol Spence Jr. as he sought his fans’ opinion about this “crazy” matchup. He is a popular name, and the monetary windfall will be huge. But the tricky part is that ‘The Truth’ has already expressed his desire to move up to 154 and fight the new unified champion, Sebastian Fundora. Can Garcia jump directly to 154? It’s highly unlikely.

Jaron Ennis‘ name has also popped up, and he holds the IBF title at 147. Garcia can’t jump straight into a fight with him, as he needs to get more fights under the belt to be in a better position to challenge him. Lastly, Conor Benn has also thrown his name into the mix. The British boxer’s hype has derailed in the last couple of years and might turn out to be a good fight to get adjusted at 147. Even Ryan Garcia himself has expressed his desire to fight the Briton at the O2 arena in London.

Garcia has never shied away from chasing big fights. He hotly pursued Gervonta Davis and he was the one who ensured he fought Haney. You can always accept him to take on a big name, and this trend won’t change when he sits down to pick his next opponent.

What do you make of this list of Ryan Garcia’s probable opponents? Who do you think he should fight next? Let us know in the comments below.