Ryan Garcia got off to an early start in the hype for his comeback fight against Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz in May, saying that “tougher match than Haney.” In this case, Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) might be right. Garcia is telling the facts.
Stronger than Haney?
Pitbull will be a much tougher fight for Ryan than for Haney because this guy has a chin of steel and can punch. He won’t try to win like Haney did.
Cruz took Gervonta Davis’ best shots and went the distance in a 12-round losing effort on December 5, 2021. He was never injured in that fight as he lost by unanimous decision.
In Cruz’s eighth-round knockout win over Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero last year on March 30, he landed a lot of heavy punches that would have knocked out a lot of fighters, including Haney. In Cruz’s last fight, he was outboxed by Jose ‘Rayo Valenzuela, losing by split decision in 12 rounds on August 3rd.
Cruz’s three losses
– Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela
– Gervonta Davis
– Luis Montano Alvarez
Ryan will fight former WBA light heavyweight champion ‘Pitbull’ Cruz in a doubleheader in New York’s Times Square in May. The event will be shown on DAZN PPV. Haney will fight Jose Ramirez on the same card in his rematch with Ryan in October.
Haney was no match for Ryan in their fight on April 20 last year, and the only reason a rematch was scheduled for October was Kingry’s failed PED test. For one-sided fights like Haney-Garcia, there are usually no rematches.
Cruz (26-3-1, 18 KOs) has a good chin and will attack Ryan non-stop throughout the fight. Pitbull won’t try to clinch non-stop or punch like Haney did because he’s not that type of fighter. He entertains and does not bore the audience.
Haney’s boring tactics
Haney’s two fights against George Kambosos Jr. and his bout against Regis Prograis was unwatchable because of all the posturing he was doing. He did a lot against Ryan, notably after he was knocked out in the seventh. Interestingly, umpire Harvey Dock penalized Garcia for a stoppage strike in the seventh, but didn’t address anything Haney was holding.
Ryan won the fight by scores of 112-112, 114-110 and 115-109.
I bring an explosive fight in my return to the fray
The pit bull has always been considered a tough opponent.
Tougher match than Haney tbh
— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) January 17, 2025
