Ryan Garcia confirms he could fight Isaac Cruz in New York
Ryan Garcia confirmed Friday that he will face Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz in New York’s Times Square in May. Devin Haney vs. Jose Ramirez will also be on the card.
Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) said Cruz (26-3-1, 18 KOs) is an opponent he has wanted to fight for a long time but has never had the chance to do so. Cruz is being brought in for a tune-up to prepare Ryan for a rematch against Devin Haney in October in Riyadh.
Big Apple fight
Cruz is a former WBA light welterweight world champion. He lost his title to Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela in his last fight on August 3 by a 12-round split decision
“Yes, in May. We will fight there. It will be good. Another great fight. I’m ready for it,” Ryan Garcia said KO artist sport about his fight against Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz in New York in May. “Pitbull is still a great fighter. He may have lost once (correction: three times), but the fans love him. He’s a big guy.
“There were so many people in London and everyone met with Turki. It’s crazy. Times Square, yeah,” Ryan said of where he plans to fight in May. “Pitbull and I often wanted to argue. It never went down.
“I think this is a fight that the fans have wanted for a long time until he (Pitbull Cruz) lost (on August 3 to Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela). I don’t think it should make any difference. He is still an explosive fighter. “Rayo boxed a great fighter and you can’t take anything away from him,” said Garcia.
As a reminder, Pitbull Cruz lost three times as a professional to these fighters:
– Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela
–Gervonta Davis
–Luis Montana Alvarez
It doesn’t matter that Cruz is coming off a loss to Rayo last August because casual boxing fans won’t notice and hardcore fans won’t mind. They just want to see Ryan Garcia in action against anyone. For most fans, Ryan could fight a cardboard prop and they would be happy.
“We should find a replacement if he doesn’t win, but I’m sure he will,” Ryan said of Isaac Cruz’s Feb. 1 fight against Angel Fierro at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. “If I win, I will fight him (Devin Haney) again and beat him again. Then I can finally put this behind me and continue my career. Maybe fight Teofimo. That’s how it’s going to go.”
There’s a good chance Pitbull Cruz could lose to Angel Fierro on the David Benavidez vs. David Morrell card next month. Fierro is a big puncher and he catches Cruz after he lost to Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela.
If Curz is beaten, Ryan’s team will have to act quickly to find someone in a hurry so he can fight on the May card. One good thing Garcia has going for him is Turki Al-Sheikh. He will likely offer a top fighter the opportunity to fight Ryan and they will jump at it.