Ryan Garcia confirmed on Friday that he will fight Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz in May at Times Square in New York. Devin Haney vs. Jose Ramirez will also be on the card.
Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) said Cruz (26-3-1, 18 KOs) is an opponent he’s wanted to fight for a long time, but never had the chance until now. Cruz is being brought in for a makeover to prepare Ryan for a rematch against Devin Haney in October in Riyadh.
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Cruz is a former WBA light welterweight champion. He lost his title in his last fight to Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela via a 12-round split decision on August 3
“Yes, in May. We’re going to fight there. It will be good. Another big fight. I’m ready to do it,” Ryan Garcia said KO Artist Sport about fighting Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz in New York in May. “Pitbull is still a great fighter. He may have lost once (correction: 3 times), but fans love him. He is a big f****.
“There were so many people in London, and they all met with Turki. It’s nuts. Times Square, yes,” Ryan said of where he plans to fight in May. “Pitbull and I would fight on many occasions. It never went down.
“I feel like this is a fight that fans have wanted for a long time until he (Pitbull Cruz) lost (to Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela on August 3). I don’t think it should make any difference. He is still an explosive fighter. Rayo boxed a great fighter, so you can’t take anything away from him either,” Garcia said.
For the record, Pitbull Cruz lost three times as a pro to these fighters:
– Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela
– Gervonta Davis
– Luis Montana Alvarez
It doesn’t matter that Cruz lost to Rayo last August, because casual boxing fans will be oblivious, and hardcore fans won’t care. They just want to see Ryan Garcia in action against anyone. For most fans, Ryan could fight a cardboard prop, and they’d be happy.
“We have to find a replacement if he doesn’t win, but I’m sure he will,” Ryan said of Isaac Cruz’s fight against Angel Fierro on February 1 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. “When I win, I’ll fight him (Devin Haney) again, beat him again. Then I can finally put it to rest and get on with my career. Maybe Teofimo fights. That’s how it goes.”
There is a good chance that Pitbull Cruz could lose to Angel Fierro next month at the David Benavidez vs. David Morrell Map. Fierro is a big puncher, and he catches Cruz after coming off a loss to Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela.
If Curz is beaten, Ryan’s team will have to act quickly to find someone in a hurry for him to fight on the May card. One good thing Garcia has going for him is Turki Al-Sheikh. He’ll probably give a top-level fighter the opportunity to fight Ryan, and they’ll jump at it.
