Promoter Oscar De La Hoya says Ryan Garcia will take a tune-up fight in late April or May when his suspension expires. He says it will only be a warm-up level opponent, not a world champion, considering Kingry will be out of the ring for a year.
Targeting Teofim and Ennis
Once Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) adjusts, the plan is to put him in a big fight, potentially against one of these two fighters:
– Teofimo Lopez
– Jaron 'Boots' Ennis
If IBF light heavyweight champion Boots Ennis is still fighting at 147, he would be a good option for Garcia. He is considered the best in his weight category. He doesn't come with all the baggage of Teofimo, as he has looked bad in repeat fights and has a few controversial wins.
“A fighter taking a year off is never a good thing. So his comeback fight has to be some kind of warm-up fight, a tuneup fight as we call it in boxing, someone who is not a world champion,” Oscar De La Hoya told Fight Hub TV on Ryan Garcia's comeback fight when he returns to the ring in 2025.
“Right now, in his weight class, whether it's 147 lbs or between 140 and 147, there are a lot of great names for him. Once Ryan's back in action, once Ryan's back in rhythm and has a tune-up fight, maybe late April or maybe early May, that's when I want to put him in 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 a rematch against Ryan Garcia. who knows. Maybe it will happen again, but again, I'll sit down with Ryan and we'll come up with a plan,” De La Hoya said.
De La Hoya doesn't seem to think Ryan should give Haney a rematch, considering how one-sided their fight was last April. During Oscar's career, he would move on after defeating his opponents.
The only exceptions were against Julio Cesar Chavez and Shane Mosley. Haney is not on the same level of talent and popularity as those two. So Ryan doesn't have to give Devin a rematch unless he can stay popular and busy, which he's not doing right now. It seems she's just waiting for Ryan.
It looks like Haney will have to wait a while for a rematch with Garcia, which may never happen. The risk for Devin in having to wait is that he'll have to stay busy with his career, and he'll have to fight a good opponent to get the kind of money he's used to getting for his fights.
Fighting a top contender or champion at 140 or 147 lb will be risky for Haney because they punch harder than the guys he's been enjoying at 135. They're not as old as Regis Prograis, who Haney beat to win his WBC light heavyweight title last year 09.12.2023.
If Haney loses to someone while awaiting a rematch with Ryan Garcia, it would likely permanently eliminate any chance of a second fight. Ryan will waste no time helping a drowning man.
No rematch Haney?
“I've never heard of a fighter suing a fighter for battery. We're in the business of beating opponents,” De La Hoya said, referring to Devin Haney's lawsuit against Ryan. “So, I've never heard that in my entire career as a fighter or promoter. But yes, it opens doors. That's a great story.
“It's nonsense, but the only way to get even is inside the ring. who knows. We might see another one, and we might not. I think Ryan gave the performance of his life. The way Ryan Garcia handled Devin Haney, for me personally, it doesn't call for a rematch, but the back and forth is pretty intense,” De La Hoya said.
This lawsuit from Haney could work against him in the long run, getting him the rematch he wants against Ryan. It's not clear if 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 about it the wrong way. Moreover, the public perception of Haney is largely negative due to his decision to sue Ryan, as fans see it as his weakness.
