Tag: Ryan Garcia

Pound-for-pound: Did Isaac Cruz do enough against Rolando Romero to crack list?

Pound-for-pound: Did Isaac Cruz do enough against Rolando Romero to crack Boxing Junkie’s list?

Isaac Cruz made a strong impression with his eighth-round knockout of Rolando Romero on Saturday in Las Vegas.

But did the new 140-pound titleholder from Mexico do enough in that fight — and does he have the resume — to climb onto Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list?

Not quite.

Everyone agrees that Cruz is evolving into a formidable fighting machine, a pressure fighter with the fitness, durability and punching power to dominate opponents.

However, we shouldn’t overreact to a one-sided victory over Romero, a good, but limited fighter. And Cruz still doesn’t have a victory over a top-tier opponent, although he gave Gervonta Davis hell in defeat in 2021.

Bottom line: Cruz has to beat a pound-for-pounder or someone of that caliber to leave no doubt that he belongs with the best in the business.

And those matchups will come soon enough if Cruz (26-2-1, 18 KOs) continues to win. Perhaps showdowns with the likes of fellow beltholders Devin Haney or Teofimo Lopez — or maybe even a rematch with Davis — are in his near future.

A victory over any of the above would be enough to lift Cruz to the next level. Stay tuned.

What about Sebastian Fundora?

The new 154-pound champ defeated rising star Tim Tszyu by a split decision in the main event on Saturday, an accomplishment for which Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs) deserves credit.

However, we can’t draw firm conclusions because Tszyu was effectively blinded by blood in his eyes, the result of a ghastly cut on his hairline. Plus, Fundora was knocked out by Brian Mendoza in his previous fight.

Fundora’s time might come, just not now.

Next pound-for-pounder up: No. 10 Devin Haney is scheduled to defend his WBC 140-pound title against Ryan Garcia on April 20 on pay-per-view from Las Vegas.

Here’s what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – No fight scheduled.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Scheduled to defend his undisputed 122-pound championship against Luis Nery on May 6 in Japan.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – Scheduled to face No. 9 Tyson Fury for the undisputed heavyweight championship on May 18 in Saudi Arabia.
  4. Dmitry Bivol – Scheduled to face No. 12 Artur Beterbiev for the undisputed 175-pound championship on June 1 in Saudi Arabia.
  5. Juan Francisco Estrada – Scheduled to defend his 115-pound title against No. 11 Jesse Rodriguez on June 29 in Phoenix.
  6. Canelo Alvarez – Scheduled to face Jaime Munguia for the undisputed 168-pound championship on May 4 in Las Vegas.
  7. Jermell Charlo – No fight scheduled.
  8. Gervonta Davis – No fight scheduled.
  9. Tyson Fury – Scheduled to face No. 3 Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight championship on May 18 in Saudi Arabia.
  10. Devin Haney– Scheduled to defend his WBC 140-pound title against Ryan Garcia on April 20 in Las Vegas.
  11. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez – Scheduled to face No. 5 Juan Francisco Estrada for Estrada’s 115-pound title on June 29 in Phoenix.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – Scheduled to face No. 4 Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed 175-pound championship on June 1 in Saudi Arabia.
  13. Errol Spence Jr. – No fight scheduled.
  14. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Scheduled to face George Kambosos Jr. for the vacant IBF 135-pound title May 12 in Australia.
  15. Shakur Stevenson– Reportedly near a deal to defend his 135-pound title against Artem Harutyunyan on July 6 in Newark, New Jersey.

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): David Benavidez (has agreed to fight 175-pounder Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June but no announcement has been made); Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled); Roman Gonzalez (no fight scheduled); Kazuto Ioka (no fight scheduled); Teofimo Lopez (reportedly near a deal to defend his 140-pound title against Steve Claggett on June 29 in Miami).

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Pound-for-pound: Action will pick up in a big way beginning on April 20

Pound-for-pound: Action will pick up in a big way beginning on April 20

That’s crickets you’re hearing when it comes to the pound-for-pound scene.

None of the 20 fighter’s on Boxing Junkie’s list — Nos. 1-15 and five Honorable Mentions — is scheduled to step into the ring until April 20, when No. 10 Devin Haney will defend his 140-pound title against Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas.

The action picks up in a big way at that point, however. Between April 20 and June 1 — a span of only five-plus weeks — seven pound-for-pounders are scheduled to fight.

They are No. 2 Naoya Inoue, No. 3 Oleksandr Usyk, No. 4 Dmitry Bivol, No. 9 Tyson Fury, Haney, No. 12 Artur Beterbiev and No. 14 Vasiliy Lomachenko (see below for details).

That number could grow. No. 6 Canelo Alvarez is expected to fight on May 4, although no opponent has been announced. And Honorable Mention David Benavidez is in talks to face 175-pounder Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June.

And who knows what other matchups involving the best of the best might emerge?

Yes, the lack of activity at the moment is disappointing. However, patience will pay dividends. The biggest stars in the sport are in the gym as you read this preparing to perform.

Next pound-for-pounder up: No. 10 Devin Haney is scheduled to defend his WBC 140-pound title against Ryan Garcia on April 20 on pay-per-view from Las Vegas.

Here’s what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – No fight scheduled.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Scheduled to defend his undisputed 122-pound championship against Luis Nery on May 6 in Japan.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – Scheduled to face No. 9 Tyson Fury for the undisputed heavyweight championship on May 18 in Saudi Arabia.
  4. Dmitry Bivol – Scheduled to face No. 12 Artur Beterbiev for the undisputed 175-pound championship on June 1 in Saudi Arabia.
  5. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  6. Canelo Alvarez – No fight scheduled.
  7. Jermell Charlo – No fight scheduled.
  8. Gervonta Davis – No fight scheduled.
  9. Tyson Fury – Scheduled to face No. 3 Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight championship on May 18 in Saudi Arabia.
  10. Devin Haney– Scheduled to defend his WBC 140-pound title against Ryan Garcia on April 20 in Las Vegas.
  11. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez – No fight scheduled.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – Scheduled to face No. 4 Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed 175-pound championship on June 1 in Saudi Arabia.
  13. Errol Spence Jr. – No fight scheduled.
  14. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Scheduled to face George Kambosos Jr. for the vacant IBF 135-pound title May 12 in Australia.
  15. Shakur Stevenson– No fight scheduled.

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): David Benavidez (has agreed to fight 175-pounder Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June but no deal is in place); Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled); Roman Gonzalez (no fight scheduled); Kazuto Ioka (no fight scheduled); Teofimo Lopez (no fight scheduled).

Pound-for-pound: Action will pick up in a big way beginning on April 20

Pound-for-pound: Action will pick up in a big way beginning on April 20

That’s crickets you’re hearing when it comes to the pound-for-pound scene.

None of the 20 fighter’s on Boxing Junkie’s list — Nos. 1-15 and five Honorable Mentions — is scheduled to step into the ring until April 20, when No. 10 Devin Haney will defend his 140-pound title against Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas.

The action picks up in a big way at that point, however. Between April 20 and June 1 — a span of only five-plus weeks — seven pound-for-pounders are scheduled to fight.

They are No. 2 Naoya Inoue, No. 3 Oleksandr Usyk, No. 4 Dmitry Bivol, No. 9 Tyson Fury, Haney, No. 12 Artur Beterbiev and No. 14 Vasiliy Lomachenko (see below for details).

That number could grow. No. 6 Canelo Alvarez is expected to fight on May 4, although no opponent has been announced. And Honorable Mention David Benavidez is in talks to face 175-pounder Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June.

And who knows what other matchups involving the best of the best might emerge?

Yes, the lack of activity at the moment is disappointing. However, patience will pay dividends. The biggest stars in the sport are in the gym as you read this preparing to perform.

Next pound-for-pounder up: No. 10 Devin Haney is scheduled to defend his WBC 140-pound title against Ryan Garcia on April 20 on pay-per-view from Las Vegas.

Here’s what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – No fight scheduled.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Scheduled to defend his undisputed 122-pound championship against Luis Nery on May 6 in Japan.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – Scheduled to face No. 9 Tyson Fury for the undisputed heavyweight championship on May 18 in Saudi Arabia.
  4. Dmitry Bivol – Scheduled to face No. 12 Artur Beterbiev for the undisputed 175-pound championship on June 1 in Saudi Arabia.
  5. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  6. Canelo Alvarez – No fight scheduled.
  7. Jermell Charlo – No fight scheduled.
  8. Gervonta Davis – No fight scheduled.
  9. Tyson Fury – Scheduled to face No. 3 Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight championship on May 18 in Saudi Arabia.
  10. Devin Haney– Scheduled to defend his WBC 140-pound title against Ryan Garcia on April 20 in Las Vegas.
  11. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez – No fight scheduled.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – Scheduled to face No. 4 Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed 175-pound championship on June 1 in Saudi Arabia.
  13. Errol Spence Jr. – No fight scheduled.
  14. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Scheduled to face George Kambosos Jr. for the vacant IBF 135-pound title May 12 in Australia.
  15. Shakur Stevenson– No fight scheduled.

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): David Benavidez (has agreed to fight 175-pounder Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June but no deal is in place); Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled); Roman Gonzalez (no fight scheduled); Kazuto Ioka (no fight scheduled); Teofimo Lopez (no fight scheduled).

Is Ryan Garcia in a fragile state of mind going into the Devin Haney fight?

A news conference to promote the April 20 fight between 140-pound boxing champ Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia was unsettling.

The news conference Thursday in Los Angeles to promote the April 20 fight between 140-pound titleholder [autotag]Devin Haney[/autotag] and [autotag]Ryan Garcia[/autotag] was unsettling.

It started on an interesting enough note, with Garcia arriving at a nightclub in Hollywood on a white horse. However, it devolved into a back-and-forth exchange that makes one wonder whether the fight will even take place.

The weirdness started the night before, when Garcia posted an image of himself smoking what appeared to be marijuana on social media. The fight is only seven weeks away.

And as he spoke Thursday his voice was strangely muffled.

Haney, sharing a dais with Garcia, seized on that by suggesting that his opponent “stop the coke. It’s f*cking up your voice.”

Garcia responded that he doesn’t take cocaine and offered to take a drug test to prove it but admitted that he does party, saying, “I drink and I smoke weed. And so has the majority of this room.”

“What kind of example are you?” Haney said. “The younger generation should look up to us.”

Devin Haney (left) and Ryan Garcia at square off during their press conference at the Palladium Times Square on February 27, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Garcia admitted that posting the image on social media was a mistake. He also acknowledged that he’s flawed and that it can be difficult for a 25-year-old to handle stardom, adding, “Sometimes the weight of the world feels like it’s on my shoulders.”

That’s a strange comment given that most fighters try to project strength, not weakness in the lead up to a fight.

Then, in perhaps the most bizarre moment of the news conference, Haney seemed to be sincere when he asked Garcia repeatedly whether he plans to show up for the fight.

Garcia didn’t answer. Instead, seated at the dais, he sat silently using his cell phone.

The champion and the challenger did engage in the obligatory stare down after the formal portion of the event. However, in one last odd moment, Garcia stepped away almost sheepishly as Haney delivered trash talk.

Will Garcia step into the ring on April 20 in Brooklyn, New York? If so, will he be in the proper frame of mind? We’ll see.

Like boxing? Be sure to visit Boxing Junkie for all your coverage of the sweet science and follow @BoxingJunkie2 on Twitter.

Is Ryan Garcia in fragile state of mind going into Devin Haney fight?

A bizarre news conference raised questions about Ryan Garcia’s state of mind going into his April 20 fight with Devin Haney.

The news conference Thursday in Los Angeles to promote the April 20 fight between 140-pound titleholder Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia was unsettling.

It started on an interesting enough note, with Garcia arriving at a nightclub in Hollywood on a white horse. However, it devolved into a back-and-forth exchange that makes one wonder whether the fight will even take place.

The weirdness started the night before, when Garcia posted an image of himself smoking what appeared to be marijuana on social media. The fight is only seven weeks away.

And as he spoke Thursday his voice was strangely muffled.

Haney, sharing a dais with Garcia, seized on that by suggesting that his opponent “stop the coke. It’s f—— up your voice.”

Garcia responded that he doesn’t take cocaine and offered to take a drug test to prove it but admitted that he does party, saying, “I drink and I smoke weed. And so has the majority of this room.”

“What kind of example are you?” Haney said. “The younger generation should look up to us.”

Garcia admitted that posting the image on social media was a mistake. He also acknowledged that he’s flawed and that it can be difficult for a 25-year-old to handle stardom, adding, “Sometimes the weight of the world feels like it’s on my shoulders.”

That’s a strange comment given that most fighters try to project strength, not weakness in the lead up to a fight.

Then, in perhaps the most bizarre moment of the news conference, Haney seemed to be sincere when he asked Garcia repeatedly whether he plans to show up for the fight.

Garcia didn’t answer. Instead, seated at the dais, he sat silently using his cell phone.

The champion and the challenger did engage in the obligatory stare down after the formal portion of the event. However, in one last odd moment, Garcia stepped away almost sheepishly as Haney delivered trash talk.

Will Garcia step into the ring on April 20 in Brooklyn, New York? If so, will he be in the proper frame of mind? We’ll see.

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Is Ryan Garcia in fragile state of mind going into Devin Haney fight?

A bizarre news conference raised questions about Ryan Garcia’s state of mind going into his April 20 fight with Devin Haney.

The news conference Thursday in Los Angeles to promote the April 20 fight between 140-pound titleholder Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia was unsettling.

It started on an interesting enough note, with Garcia arriving at a nightclub in Hollywood on a white horse. However, it devolved into a back-and-forth exchange that makes one wonder whether the fight will even take place.

The weirdness started the night before, when Garcia posted an image of himself smoking what appeared to be marijuana on social media. The fight is only seven weeks away.

And as he spoke Thursday his voice was strangely muffled.

Haney, sharing a dais with Garcia, seized on that by suggesting that his opponent “stop the coke. It’s f—— up your voice.”

Garcia responded that he doesn’t take cocaine and offered to take a drug test to prove it but admitted that he does party, saying, “I drink and I smoke weed. And so has the majority of this room.”

“What kind of example are you?” Haney said. “The younger generation should look up to us.”

Garcia admitted that posting the image on social media was a mistake. He also acknowledged that he’s flawed and that it can be difficult for a 25-year-old to handle stardom, adding, “Sometimes the weight of the world feels like it’s on my shoulders.”

That’s a strange comment given that most fighters try to project strength, not weakness in the lead up to a fight.

Then, in perhaps the most bizarre moment of the news conference, Haney seemed to be sincere when he asked Garcia repeatedly whether he plans to show up for the fight.

Garcia didn’t answer. Instead, seated at the dais, he sat silently using his cell phone.

The champion and the challenger did engage in the obligatory stare down after the formal portion of the event. However, in one last odd moment, Garcia stepped away almost sheepishly as Haney delivered trash talk.

Will Garcia step into the ring on April 20 in Brooklyn, New York? If so, will he be in the proper frame of mind? We’ll see.

[lawrence-related id=40878,40718,39956,40057,40041,40037]

Junkie Drawer: Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia set for NYC; Juan Estrada, Bam Rodriguez in talks

Junkie Drawer: Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia is set to take place on April 20 in New York. Also, Juan Estrada and Bam Rodriguez are in talks.

Devin Haney is now scheduled to defend his 140-pound title against Ryan Garcia on April 20 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, promoter Oscar De La Hoya said.

The high-profile matchup, announced on Feb. 9, had been expected to take place in Las Vegas.

Two news conferences to promote the event reportedly our set for Feb. 27 and 29 Palladium Times Square in New York and Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles, respectively. The events will be open to the public.

The fight will be available on pay-per-view.

Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) won his belt by shutting out Regis Prograis in December. Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) also last fought in December, when he stopped Oscar Duarte in eight rounds.

***

Juan Francisco Rodriguez, a 115-pound titleholder, and 112-pound champ Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez reportedly are in talks for a showdown this summer.

“They tell me that things are progressing well for a possible battle between Juan Francisco ‘Gallo’ Estrada and Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez in June-July. [Promoter Eddie Hearn] told us that he would look for (it) for the summer in Phoenix,” ESPN’s Salvador Rodriguez said in Spanish on X.

Estrada (44-3, 28 KOs) hasn’t fought since he defeated Roman Gonzalez by a majority decision in their third fight in December 2022.

Rodriguez (19-0, 12 KOs) is coming off a sensational ninth-round knockout of then-unbeaten Sunny Edwards last December. He would be moving up in weight to challenge Estrada but he previously held a 115-pound title.

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Junkie Drawer: Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia set for NYC; Juan Estrada, Bam Rodriguez in talks

Junkie Drawer: Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia is set to take place on April 20 in New York. Also, Juan Estrada and Bam Rodriguez are in talks.

Devin Haney is now scheduled to defend his 140-pound title against Ryan Garcia on April 20 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, promoter Oscar De La Hoya said.

The high-profile matchup, announced on Feb. 9, had been expected to take place in Las Vegas.

Two news conferences to promote the event reportedly our set for Feb. 27 and 29 Palladium Times Square in New York and Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles, respectively. The events will be open to the public.

The fight will be available on pay-per-view.

Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) won his belt by shutting out Regis Prograis in December. Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) also last fought in December, when he stopped Oscar Duarte in eight rounds.

***

Juan Francisco Rodriguez, a 115-pound titleholder, and 112-pound champ Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez reportedly are in talks for a showdown this summer.

“They tell me that things are progressing well for a possible battle between Juan Francisco ‘Gallo’ Estrada and Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez in June-July. [Promoter Eddie Hearn] told us that he would look for (it) for the summer in Phoenix,” ESPN’s Salvador Rodriguez said in Spanish on X.

Estrada (44-3, 28 KOs) hasn’t fought since he defeated Roman Gonzalez by a majority decision in their third fight in December 2022.

Rodriguez (19-0, 12 KOs) is coming off a sensational ninth-round knockout of then-unbeaten Sunny Edwards last December. He would be moving up in weight to challenge Estrada but he previously held a 115-pound title.

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Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia to meet on April 20 in Las Vegas

Another major boxing fight is on the 2024 calendar as Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia has been booked.

[autotag]Devin Haney[/autotag] reportedly has agreed to his biggest fight yet.

The unbeaten 140-pound titleholder will face [autotag]Ryan Garcia[/autotag] in a pay-per-view battle of 25-year-old stars on April 20 from Las Vegas, according to multiple reports.

Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) is still rebuilding after a knockout loss to Gervonta Davis last year but he and Davis have the biggest social media followings in the sport, which makes Haney’s first defense a major event.

Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) and Garcia reportedly split six fights as amateurs but the champion has had more success as a professional.

He’s one of the hottest fighters in the world, with consecutive victories over George Kambosos Jr. (twice), Vasiliy Lomachenko and Regis Prograis over the past year and a half.

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Haney won and successfully defended the undisputed 135-pound championship against Kambosos, narrowly outpointed Lomachenko at 135 and then took Prograis’ title by a shutout decision in his debut as a full-fledged junior welterweight.

He climbed to No. 10 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound after the Prograis victory.

Davis put a stop to Garcia’s momentum last April, stopping the Los Angeles-area fighter with a body punch in the seventh round. The loser had moved down from 140 for the big-money opportunity.

Garcia rebounded with an eighth-round stoppage over Oscar Duarte in December, which set up the matchup with Haney.

Garcia had been in talks to face beltholder Rolando Romero but those negotiations broke down and Romero opted to defend against Isaac Cruz, which opened the door to the Haney-Garcia fight.

This story initially appeared on Boxing Junkie, an online property of the USA Today Sports network.

Reports: Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia to meet on April 20 in Las Vegas

Reports: 140-pound champ Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia have agreed to meet on April 20 in Las Vegas.

Devin Haney reportedly has agreed to his biggest fight yet.

The unbeaten 140-pound titleholder will face Ryan Garcia in a pay-per-view battle of 25-year-old stars on April 20 from Las Vegas, according to multiple reports.

Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) is still rebuilding after a knockout loss to Gervonta Davis last year but he and Davis have the biggest social media followings in the sport, which makes Haney’s first defense a major event.

Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) and Garcia reportedly split six fights as amateurs but the champion has had more success as a professional.

He’s one of the hottest fighters in the world, with consecutive victories over George Kambosos Jr. (twice), Vasiliy Lomachenko and Regis Prograis over the past year and a half.

Haney won and successfully defended the undisputed 135-pound championship against Kambosos, narrowly outpointed Lomachenko at 135 and then took Prograis’ title by a shutout decision in his debut as a full-fledged junior welterweight.

He climbed to No. 10 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound after the Prograis victory.

Davis put a stop to Garcia’s momentum last April, stopping the Los Angeles-area fighter with a body punch in the seventh round. The loser had moved down from 140 for the big-money opportunity.

Garcia rebounded with an eighth-round stoppage over Oscar Duarte in December, which set up the matchup with Haney.

Garcia had been in talks to face beltholder Rolando Romero but those negotiations broke down and Romero opted to defend against Isaac Cruz, which opened the door to the Haney-Garcia fight.

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