Ryan Garcia is off to an early start in hyping up his comeback fight against Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz in May, saying he’s a “tougher match-up than Haney.” In this case, Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) might be right. Garcia is speaking facts.
Tougher Than Haney?
Pitbull is going to be a lot tougher fight for Ryan than Haney, because this guy has a steel chin, and he can punch. He won’t try to clinch and jab his way to a victory like Haney was attempting to do.
Cruz took Gervonta Davis’ best shots and went the 12-round distance in a losing effort on December 5, 2021. He was never hurt in that fight in losing a unanimous decision.
In Cruz’s eighth-round knockout win over Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero last year on March 30th, he took a lot of heavy blows that would have knocked out a lot of fighters, including Haney. In Cruz’s last fight, he was outboxed by Jose ‘Rayo Valenzuela, losing a 12-round split decision on August 3rd.
Cruz’s Three Losses
– Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela
– Gervonta Davis
– Luis Montano Alvarez
Ryan will be fighting the former WBA light welterweight champion ‘Pitbull’ Cruz in May in a doubleheader at Times Square in New York. The event will be shown on DAZN PPV. Haney will be fighting Jose Ramirez on the same card in his fight to set up the rematch with Ryan in October.
Haney was no competition for Ryan in their fight on April 20th last year, and the only reason there’s a planned rematch 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 be bum-rushing Ryan nonstop for as long as the fight lasts. Pitbull will not try to clinch nonstop or jab like Haney was doing because he’s not that type of fighter. He entertains and doesn’t bore the crowd.
Haney’s Boring Tactics
Haney’s two fights against George Kambosos Jr. and his clash against Regis Prograis were unwatchable due to all the holding he was doing. He was doing a lot of that against Ryan, significantly after he was dropped in the seventh. Interestingly, the referee Harvey Dock penalized Garcia for hitting on the break in the seventh but didn’t address all the holding Haney was doing.
Ryan won the fight by the scores 112-112, 114-110, and 115-109.
I’m bringing a explosive fight in my fight comeback
Pit bull has always been considered a tough opponent.
Tougher match up then Haney tbh
— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) January 17, 2025
