Ryan Garcia is getting ready to bounce back after facing a rough patch earlier this year. On May 2nd, during the Fatal Fury event, the former WBA super lightweight champ got caught by Rolando Romero’s own signature left hook and hit the canvas in the second round. Romero clinched a unanimous decision win, putting Garcia in a position where he’s got a lot to show not just to himself but to his supporters as well. After undergoing hand surgery, Garcia is gearing up for his comeback in the ring. The big question now is, who will be the perfect opponent for KingRy’s return?

It’s pretty wild how Ryan Garcia’s connection with Henry Cejudo goes all the way back to May 12, 2020, when he threw down the gauntlet to the former UFC double champ on X. Just days after Cejudo hung up his gloves post-UFC 249 victory against Dominick Cruz, Garcia threw it out there to the fans, asking if ‘Triple C’ could bring the heat in a boxing match. Cejudo stepped up to the plate, even expressing some excitement about the concept. By July, Garcia was all in, telling Ariel Helwani he was gunning for both a boxing match and an MMA showdown with Cejudo. With Garcia gearing up for a comeback, the question is back on the table. So, are we actually going to get to see Ryan Garcia take on Henry Cejudo?

Want a boxing match? Being Dana White’s favorite might be the only way

On the latest episode of Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru & Henry, the conversation turned to boxing when Kamaru Usman reminded Henry Cejudo of a certain exchange. “You said you wanted one, too. You wanted… Who did you want? Ryan Garcia? Isn’t that what you said?” Usman asked. Cejudo was quick to set the record straight. “I didn’t want Ryan Garcia. Ryan Garcia sent me a message, bro, that he wanted to fight me. And I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s a great idea. Let’s sell it.’ And then I started going in on him. They got serious,” he recalled with a laugh.

Usman pressed him further, joking that Cejudo didn’t really want the smoke in the boxing ring. Cejudo, however, clarified his stance. “No, no, it’s not that. It’s just that… he’s the one that approached me. He’s the one who sent me a message. He was like, ‘Hey, don’t retire. Let’s box. I like your hands,’” Cejudo explained. The former two-division UFC champion insisted the idea came from the 27-year-old, not from him chasing a payday.

When asked if he truly would’ve stepped into the ring, Cejudo didn’t hesitate. “Oh, 100%. Dana, I wasn’t Dana’s fave, dude. You know, I wasn’t Conor McGregor. So he put a stop to it. But if Dana would have approved it, dude, me and Ryan would have been fighting for sure,” he said. The comments point back to 2017, when Dana White allowed Conor McGregor to face Floyd Mayweather in one of the biggest crossover fights in combat sports history, a spectacle that generated over $550 million in revenue.

For Cejudo, the message is clear: as long as he’s under UFC contract, Dana White ultimately calls the shots. Until he retires, any boxing crossover is off the table unless the UFC CEO gives his blessing. Meanwhile, Ryan Garcia has turned his attention elsewhere, reigniting his feud with Devin Haney ahead of Haney’s upcoming superfight against Brian Norman Jr.

Ryan Garcia’s old foe back in the picture

“Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney end the drama,” read Clockednloaded’s caption after the two rivals were spotted squashing their beef in public. In the clip, Garcia walked over, shook Devin Haney’s hand, and gave him a hug, even recalling a lighter moment between them: “You taught me how to play baccarat, remember?” Fans quickly gave their seal of approval, celebrating the unexpected show of respect.

But the story didn’t end there. On his own page, Ryan Garcia reignited the rivalry by posting a face-off photo with Haney and tagging him with the message, “Round 2 @realdevinhaney.” The post sparked fresh chatter online, raising questions about whether the long-running feud might actually lead to a second chapter.

Still, it’s far too early to talk rematch. Neither Ryan Garcia’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, nor Haney’s father, Bill Haney, has shown much enthusiasm about making it happen. More than a year has passed since their first fight, and plenty has changed for both men since. That said, who do you want to see Ryan Garcia fight next?