Ryan Garcia wants out again this year following a quick first defence of his WBC welterweight world title.
The 28-year-old stopped mandatory challenger Conor Benn inside two rounds earlier this month, and feels fresh to go ahead again in a few months.
Garcia has publicly targeted Isaac Cruz for that next defence. The Mexican fan-favourite stopped Nestor Bravo this weekend to retain his WBC interim super-lightweight title.
THE MEXICAN MIKE TYSON, AND THE FACE OF MEXICAN BOXING @IsaacPitbull98!!! 🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽#PitbullBravo pic.twitter.com/jb55rrSXdJ
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) September 20, 2026
Speaking post-fight, ‘Pitbull’ went all in on the challenge, apparently open to a welterweight move despite a natural size disadvantage.
“Hey, Ryan, I’m here. My next fight is for you. Come on, Ryan.”
Garcia was quick to respond. Alongside a screenshot of a message saying “send an offer”, he said on social media that Cruz has just once chance to accept the fight.
‘I’ve already given the go [ahead] to my attorney – if he rejects this time I will never give him another chance, you have my word.”
The welterweight world champion then followed up with more details.
“To make this very clear to the fans, I’ve asked to fight pitbull twice and one time he was my mandatory and he has denied twice.
“This will be my last time ever attempting to give him a chance. My word is very clear and I plan with my whole heart to follow it.
“If he denies I’ll never entertain this again.”
Whether or not the fight develops behind the scenes remains to be seen. Garcia is in a voluntary stage of his title reign, but the WBC would need to approve Cruz as a worthy challenger given he is not currently ranked at 147lbs.
If Garcia does fight and win, no matter the opponent, it is understood that talks for a unification against WBO champion Teofimo Lopez are progressing, with early next year in Las Vegas targeted.
