Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney have agreed to a rematch, but there are a few low-key exciting steps before the two men clash again.
Before we get into the Garcia-Haney details, I’ve got to point out how big of a week it’s been for boxing. It seems like the Ring Magazine awards show in January could become boxing’s version of Major League Baseball’s winter meetings.
There is a list of major fights being made with some or all of the negotiations happening during the gala in London this past weekend.
At any rate, according to Turki Alalshikh, the owner of Ring Magazine and head of Riyadh Season, a deal is done for Garcia and Haney to rematch in August.
However, both men will fight different opponents in May. If they win, the bitter and lucrative rematch will take place this summer. Alalshikh posted an image of Garcia signing the deal on X, and in the caption, he teases more info is on the way.
It appears the fights will be contested at welterweight, as Haney posted “bye 140” on X on Wednesday evening. We don’t know who Haney or Garcia will be fighting in May, but the card, which is reportedly set to take place at a venue in the United States, could be major.
Garcia posted, “I can’t wait for you guys to see who I’m fighting. One thing you can’t say about me is I take weak fights ever. Only one really doing it.”
Meanwhile, Teofimo Lopez, the reigning WBO 140-pound champion, has been active in the conversation. Lopez replied to Garcia’s post, saying: “Let’s see if you finish the job so we get the 147 fight.”
It’s unclear where Lopez fits in this, but it seems like the welterweight division is about to get very interesting.
Alalshikh already has a mega card coming in February, headlined by the rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed light heavyweight title.
Neither Garcia nor Haney have fought since their controversial but entertaining first meeting in April 2024. Garcia dropped Haney three times in the fight en route to a unanimous decision win.
However, the win was overturned when Garcia tested positive for banned substances, which led to him being suspended for a year. Garcia is eligible to return to the ring in April, but it appears his first fight back will be in May.
It appears both sides and Alalshikh want to ensure the fighters are at their best considering their long layoffs. The tune-up fight in May should serve to knock the rust off and build hype for the rematch.
The delay also gives the two sides time to put the lawsuit to rest, which would otherwise hamper any negotiations.
We’re only two weeks into January, and we’ve already had a ton of huge boxing news. Who said boxing was dead?
