Haney Rematch Should Be Next For Garcia

Ryan Garcia should fight Devin Haney next instead of chasing a welterweight unification against Teofimo Lopez, according to Ring Magazine columnist Keith Idec.

Garcia recently stopped Conor Benn in the second round at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, his second straight win after dropping a decision to Rolando Romero in May 2025. Lopez beat Romero for the WBA strap in August, setting up a natural matchup between the two DAZN-aligned welterweight titleholders. But Idec contends the commercial and competitive value of a Garcia-Haney rematch has never been higher.

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Why Garcia Must Prove April 2024 Win Was Clean

Garcia knocked Haney down three times in their April 2024 fight at Barclays Center before winning a majority decision, but tested positive afterward for ostarine, a banned substance. Haney has been inactive for 10 months since outpointing Brian Norman in November, and failed to land fights with Shakur Stevenson or Keyshawn Davis. "I did a number on him, I really did. I really hurt them mentally, physically, even spiritually," Garcia told The Ring last week, per the column.

Idec writes that Garcia must demonstrate the knockdowns were legitimate, while Haney needs the rematch more than any other available opponent. A unification with Lopez can wait — the two have promoted each other since their lightweight days, and the fight will remain viable. But momentum for the Haney sequel may not last if they delay, particularly with Haney's recent struggles to secure marquee bouts.

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Garcia beat Mario Barrios in his first fight after the Romero upset, then dispatched Benn on the same Las Vegas card where Lopez claimed his title. Idec argues those back-to-back wins rebuilt Garcia's reputation, making the Haney rematch a bigger draw now than it might be months from now. The fight does not require sanctioning body blessing — it carries enough intrigue on its own.

Source: ringmagazine.com