It’s a ‘will they, won’t they’ situation between rivals Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia. The pair have been on a collision course since their first fight in April 2024. Even though ‘King Ry’ won the bout, his positive drug test expunged Haney’s loss. After Garcia served his time, the pair was once again slated to meet each other after a tune-up fight. But things went wrong. 

Although Haney defeated Jose Ramirez, Garcia dropped a decision loss to Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero, derailing a rematch. Since then, the duo has defeated Brian Norman Jr. and Mario Barrios, respectively, collecting WBO and WBC titles, setting the stage for a rematch. However, Haney wants Garcia to enroll in a 365-day VADA testing program, causing the fight to stand still. 

“He wanna fight in July cause [he’s] still cycling those PEDS,” Haney wrote on X. “September & start drug testing now.”

It’s worth noting that, according to World Boxing News, Haney Promotions is targeting a rematch between Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia on September 5 at Allegiant Stadium. 

“Why are you such a p—y? I want to know genuinely,” Garcia responded. “I told you I don’t care if you test me. You are a b—h, that word won’t even begin to describe you, but it’s the only word at this moment in the dictionary. You know in your heart you got beat, and that fear I told you about never left and never will.”

When an X account shared this interaction between Garcia and Haney, the latter simply made a prediction. 

“He won’t sign up,” Haney wrote. 

It looks like the rematch will be pushed back even further. But that shouldn’t really be a surprise at this point. Not to mention, Garcia had started looking elsewhere for a fight since he defeated Barrios, as he called out Shakur Stevenson for a fight. But much like in Haney’s case, the Stevenson fight also appears to be stalled. 

Although the Newark native agreed to face Garcia, he wanted a rehydration clause in the fight contract. And since Garcia knows firsthand what rehydration can do, he wasn’t on board. So, the Victorville native has issued another challenge to a different target. 

Ryan Garcia is over the Devin Haney rematch, as he targets a former champion

Speaking on the Creators Think Podcast, Garcia made it clear he’s focused on new challenges rather than revisiting old rivalries. And his new target is former WBO super lightweight champion, Teofimo Lopez.

“I’m out here fighting Devin Haney, Tank Davis—now I’m about to fight Teofimo Lopez. I’m fighting everybody that’s in front of me…,” he said. “… Now that I am a world champion, you’re going to have to come to me now. If you don’t want to, I don’t really need you anyways.”

With Teofimo Lopez potentially next, Garcia’s stance suggests the Haney chapter is closed, for now. However, Lopez fights at super lightweight and hasn’t responded to Garcia’s callout. And who even knows whether he wants to fight Garcia? Although he has claimed he will move up to welterweight since his loss to Shakur Stevenson earlier this year. 

Another potential opponent for Garcia, IBF welterweight champion Lewis Crocker, has a hand injury. Garcia can pursue a rematch against Rolando Romero, but Romero himself appears to be after landing a fight against Haney. 

Ryan Garcia may have won his first major title, but it appears he is struggling to fight a proper opponent for his first title defense. Who do you think it should be/could be?