Ryan Garcia: “Isaac Cruz is a tougher game than Haney”

Ryan Garcia has started early to hype his comeback fight against Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz in May, saying it’s a “Tougher game than Haney.” In this case, Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) could be right. Garcia talks about facts.

Tougher than Haney?

Pitbull is going to be a much tougher fight for Ryan than Haney because this guy has a chin of steel and he can hit. He’s not going to try to pull off a win like Haney was trying to do.

Cruz took Gervonta Davis’ best shots and went the distance of 12 rounds in a losing effort on December 5, 2021. He was never injured in that fight in a unanimous decision loss.

In Cruz’s eighth-round knockout win over Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero last year on March 30, he landed a lot of hard punches that would have knocked out many fighters, including Haney. In Cruz’s last fight, he was outclassed by Jose ‘Rayo Valenzuela, losing a 12-round split decision on August 3rd.

Cruz’s three losses

– Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela
– Gervonta Davis
– Luis Montano Alvarez

Ryan will fight former WBA light welterweight champion “Pitbull” Cruz in May in a doubleheader in New York’s Times Square. The event will be available to watch on DAZN PPV. Haney will fight Jose Ramirez on the same card in his fight to set up the rematch with Ryan in October.

Haney was a no-compete for Ryan in their fight on April 20 of last year, and the only reason there is a rematch scheduled for October is Kingry’s failed PED test. For one-sided fights like Haney-Garcia, there are usually no rematches.

Cruz (26-3-1, 18 KOs) has a good chin and will take Ryan non-stop throughout the fight. Pitbull isn’t going to try to hold on and take a jab like Haney was doing because he’s not that type of fighter. It entertains and doesn’t bore people.

Haney’s boring tactics

Haney’s two fights against George Kambosos Jr. and his matchup against Regis Prograis were not seen due to all the participation he was doing. He was doing a lot of that against Ryan, significantly so after going down in the seventh. Interestingly, referee Harvey Dock penalized Garcia for hitting on the break in the seventh, but didn’t address all the holding that Haney was doing.

Ryan won the fight by scores of 112-112, 114-110 and 115-109.

I bring an explosive fight in my comeback

The pit bull has always been considered a tough opponent.

Tougher match than Haney tbh

— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) January 17, 2025