Oscar De La Hoya has made it clear who he wants Ryan Garcia to take on next.
Garcia finally achieved his dream of becoming world champion when he defeated Mario Barrios last month to win the WBC welterweight title.
It has seen ‘King Ry’ once again become one of the hottest commodities in the sport, and his promoter De La Hoya believes it is the right time for a rematch with former rival and current WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney.
Garcia defeated Haney back in 2024 before the result was overturned to a no contest due to ‘King Ry’ failing a drugs test, but De La Hoya has explained to DAZN why the second meeting should happen.
“I actually like the rematch with Devin Haney. There’s a lot of talk, a lot of chatter right now. I think Devin Haney actually does deserve the rematch, just because he’s been talking a lot and his last performance was a really good performance.
“What Ryan did in his last fight with Barrios, obviously a world champion, [it means] he’s back, better than ever mentally, physically. I’d love to see that rematch, Haney vs Ryan Garcia.”
De La Hoya then pleaded with Haney not to take a rumoured bout with WBA champion Rolly Romero and instead go straight into the clash with Garcia.
“Ryan Garcia-Devin Haney makes all the sense in the world, do not take a tune up, let’s make this fight happen.”
Despite De La Hoya’s wishes, it appears that the fight between Haney and Romero is set to go ahead in Las Vegas in May, but it could then give Garcia the opportunity to later challenge for both the WBA and WBO titles if ‘The Dream’ is victorious.
