Ryan García: “Isaac Cruz is a more difficult opponent than Haney”

Ryan Garcia has started early to promote his comeback fight against Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz in May, saying it’s a “Tougher matchup than Haney.In this case, García (24-1, 20 KOs) could be right. García is talking about facts.

Tougher than Haney?

Pitbull will be a much tougher fight for Ryan than it will be for Haney, because this guy has a chin of steel and can punch. He won’t try to secure and muscle his way to a victory like Haney was trying to do.

Cruz took the best punches of Gervonta Davis and went the distance 12 rounds in a losing effort on December 5, 2021. He was never hurt in that fight losing by unanimous decision.

In Cruz’s eighth-round knockout victory over Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero last year on March 30, he took a lot of hard shots that would have knocked out many fighters, including Haney. In Cruz’s last fight, he was outboxed by José’ Rayo Valenzuela, losing a 12-round split decision on August 3.

Cruz’s three defeats

– José ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela
–Gervonta Davis
– Luis Montano Alvarez

Ryan will fight former WBA light welterweight champion ‘Pitbull’ Cruz in May in a doubleheader in Times Square in New York. The event will be broadcast on DAZN PPV. Haney will fight Jose Ramirez on the same card in his fight to set up a rematch with Ryan in October.

Haney was no match for Ryan in their fight on April 20 last year, and the only reason there is a rematch planned in October is 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 put pressure on Ryan non-stop for the duration of the fight. Pitbull won’t try to clinch non-stop or jab like Haney did because he’s not that type of fighter. It entertains and does not bore the crowd.

Haney’s Boring Tactics

Haney’s two fights against George Kambosos Jr. and his clash against Regis Prograis were unwatchable because of all the grappling he was doing. He was doing a lot of that against Ryan, significantly after he got knocked down in the seventh. Interestingly, umpire Harvey Dock penalized Garcia for batting on the counterattack in the seventh, but didn’t address all the holding Haney was doing.

Ryan won the fight with scores of 112-112, 114-110 and 115-109.

I bring an explosive fight on my fight return

The pitbull has always been considered a tough opponent.

Tougher match than Haney tbh

— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) January 17, 2025