Promoter Oscar De La Hoya says Ryan Garcia will have a tune-up fight in late April or May when his suspension expires. He says it will only be a warm-up level opponent and not a world champion, as Kingry will be out of the ring for a year.
It is intended for Teofimo and Ennis
After Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) takes a tune-up, the plan is to put him in a big fight, potentially against one of these two fighters:
– Teofimo Lopez
-Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis
If IBF welterweight champion Boots Ennis is still fighting at 147, he would be a good option for Garcia. He is seen as the best in his weight class. It does not come with all the baggage that Teofimo does, with him looking poor in repeated battles and having many controversial victories.
“A fighter who has a year layoff is never a good thing. Therefore, his comeback fight should be a kind of warm-up fight, a tuneup fight that we call in boxing, someone who is not a world champion”, said Oscar De La Hoya to Fight Hub TV about Ryan Garcia’s comeback fight when he returns to the ring in 2025.
“Right now, in his division, whether it’s 147 lbs or between 140 and 147, there are a lot of big names for him. Once Ryan gets back into action, once Ryan gets back into rhythm and has a tune-up fight , possibly at the end of April or maybe at the beginning of May, then I want to launch with the best.
“That’s what Ryan wants to do, challenge himself and fight the best, whether it’s Teofimo Lopez or Boots Ennis or whoever is the best. We still have Devin Haney, who wants that rematch against Ryan Garcia. Who knows? Maybe that will happen again, but again, I’ll sit down with Ryan, and we’ll pick a plan,” De La Hoya said.
De La Hoya doesn’t seem to think Ryan should give Haney a rematch, given how one-sided their fight was last April. During Oscar’s career, he would move after beating the opposition.
The only exceptions were against Julio Cesar Chavez and Shane Mosley. Haney is not at the same level of talent and popularity as those two. So, Ryan doesn’t need to give Devin a rematch unless he can stay popular and busy, which he isn’t currently doing. He just seems to be waiting for Ryan.
It looks like Haney will have to wait a while for a rematch with Garcia, which could ever happen. The risk for Devin to have to wait is that he will have to be busy with his career, and he will have to fight good opposition to get the kind of money he is used to getting for his fights.
The fight with a contender or champion of 140 or 147 lb will be risky for Haney because they punch harder than the guys he had party at 135. They are not old like Regis Prograis, who Haney defeated to catch his weight WBC light welterweight. last year’s title on December 9, 2023.
If Haney loses to someone while he waits for the rematch with Ryan Garcia to happen, that could definitely eliminate any chance of a second fight. Ryan will waste no time helping a drowning man.
No Haney rematch?
“I’ve never heard of a fighter asking for a fight for battery. We’re in the business of beating opponents,” said De La Hoya, talking about the lawsuit Devin Haney filed against Ryan. “So, I’ve never heard that in my entire career as a fighter or a promoter. But yeah, that opens the door. It’s a great storyline.
“It’s silly, but the only way to beat him is in the ring. Who knows? Maybe we’ll see another one, or maybe we won’t. I think Ryan put on a show of a lifetime. The way Ryan Garcia handled it Devin Haney, for me personally, is not calling for a rematch, but the back and forth is pretty intense,” De La Hoya said.
This Haney lawsuit could work against him in the long run, getting him the rematch he wants against Ryan. It’s unclear whether Devin and his father, Bill Haney, saw the bigger picture.
It was a bitter pill to swallow losing to Kingry, but if they want a rematch, they’re going to do it the wrong way. In addition, Haney’s public perception is largely negative since his decision to sue Ryan, as fans see that as a weakness on his part.
