Devin Haney calls Ryan Garcia rematch his 'dream fight'

Devin Haney wants his rematch with Ryan Garcia. The WBO welterweight champion told Inside The Ring on Monday that a unification bout with WBC titleholder Garcia tops his wish list, calling it his "dream fight."

The two fought in April 2024, and Garcia won by majority decision before the result was overturned to a no-contest after he failed multiple drug tests for Ostarine. "I need that get back," Haney said, per The Ring. "It was a tough experience for me, but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I feel like it brought the best out of me [and] made me a better fighter."

Stakes higher after recent title wins

Both fighters have added hardware since their first meeting. Haney won the WBO title with a dominant unanimous decision over Brian Norman in November. Garcia, meanwhile, claimed his first world title with a one-sided unanimous decision over Mario Barrios. Haney is ranked No. 1 at welterweight by The Ring, with Garcia at No. 4.

Former two-division champion Teofimo Lopez said Garcia's popularity benefits anyone who shares a ring with him. "I think in this time of modern day era, boxing right now, it's leaning towards that popularity," Lopez said on the same broadcast. "[It's] leaning towards that engagement with fans. He's helping the sport evolve to a different point, and whoever faces him is going to gain that access."

Haney dismissed the notion that popularity drives his thinking. "I want to fight the best fighters in the world and beat the best fighters in the world," he said. "I want my name to live on, not because I was popular, [but] because I was great."

Source: ringmagazine.com