Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) has announced that he will face Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz (26-3-1, 18 KOs) in May in Times Square, New York. It will be ‘King Ryan’s’ return to the ring after a year-long doping ban, although for Cruz to be available he needs to come through his fight against Angel Fierro on February 1. It seems a short time between one fight and another for the ‘Pitbull’, but a plan has been set in motion to organize a super fight – it is not known if it will be free – in the heart of the Big Apple. As might be expected, Turki Alalshikh is behind it.
This curious event would also feature the fight between Devin Haney and Jose Ramirez. Later, in October, there would be a fight between the winners of both duels, which is expected to be Garcia and Haney. The information comes from ‘King Ry’ himself, who told a group of reporters at an event at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, a day after signing to fight in the Riyadh Season events.
The Times Square event is not actually that easy to materialize, but it is a challenge for the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. According to reports from the United States, the evening would be boosted by The Ring magazine – owned by Alalshikh – and video game company SNK, which would get involved to promote the launch of ‘Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves’.
Turki has made it clear on social media that he wants to hold a tournament between 2025 and 2026 and the winner of the Ryan Garcia-Devin Haney fight would face the winner of the Teofimo Lopez-Jaron Ennis fight. He explained on social media: “It’s easy… fight [Garcia] in May and then the big rematch in October [against Haney] and on the same card we’ll try to get Teo [Lopez] against Boots [Jaron Ennis], then the winner against the winner and the loser against the loser in February. We need to discuss it with our partners Top Rank, Matchroom, Goldenboy and PBC.” It is ambitious, and it should be noted that Ennis is a welterweight, but it would all be a matter of getting down to it.
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