Ryan Garcia: Devin Haney rematch should be next for the WBC champion

Ryan Garcia put on a career-best performance on Saturday night, dropping and dominating Mario Barrios from start to finish in capturing the WBC welterweight championship, the first world title win for the 27-year-old.

He showed a bit of everything and not just the signature left hook. Garcia actually dropped Barrios with a right 26 seconds into the fight and found a home with the punch, using the jab throughout. According to Compubox, Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs) connected with a personal high of 82 jabs and 103 power jabs. 

Now, Garcia is no longer the hunter but is the hunted. Plenty of fighters want a crack at him and vice versa. 

Who should be next for 'KingRy'? 

DAZN News lists three names, including one who stands out above the rest.

Devin Haney

The number one choice, and it isn't even close. It's the biggest fight on paper and one that generates the most interest. The rivalry runs deep, dating back to their amateur days when they split six fights. 

Garcia and Haney had a volatile promotional buildup to their April 2024 clash. Everything appeared to be settled inside the ring as Garcia dropped Haney three times to win a majority decision. But the decision was reversed after it had been revealed that Garcia failed a drug test for ostarine. 

That only heightened the animosity between the two, with Haney so upset that he sued Garcia. A rematch had been agreed upon for late 2025 if both guys won their respective fights last May on Times Square. Haney held up his end of the bargain, defeating Jose Ramirez. However, Garcia failed to complete his side, getting dropped and dominated by Rolly Romero.

Now, both guys hold welterweight titles and Garcia has Haney in crosshairs, saying so at Saturday's post-fight press conference.

The fight sells itself and makes millions upon millions of dollars and sense.

Sign us up.

Shakur Stevenson

The obvious number two choice here.

Before last Saturday's event, Garcia kept saying he would take a Stevenson fight at 144 pounds. And Stevenson agreed to the idea as long as Garcia was continuously drug tested for the fight and wouldn't demand a rehydration clause in the contract. 

Stevenson was an analyst at the show for DAZN and came down to the ringside area in the final rounds to get a closer look at Garcia. During his post-fight interview in the ring, Garcia made it clear he wouldn't mind a fight with Stevenson, who was down for the idea as well.

Back up at the analyst's desk following the show, Stevenson made it clear he'd have no problems beating Garcia.

If, for some reason, the Haney rematch doesn't get made, the Stevenson fight, even at 144 pounds, is the way to go. Garcia showed a different wrinkle in his arsenal that could give Stevenson, despite being the best defensive boxer in the sport, some trouble. 

Conor Benn

The least likely option of the three, but also warrants serious consideration.

Benn was ringside for the Barrios-Garcia main event as an interested ringside observer. Garcia, though, didn't mention Benn as a possibility in his post-fight interview or at his presser after the fight card. The Englishman is the No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger for the WBC belt. However, three things make it unlikely Benn will be next despite his massive popularity coming off the two Chris Eubank Jr. fights in 2025. 

One, Garcia can take a voluntary defense so he can make Benn wait and take an interim bout.

Secondly, even though Benn is a gigantic name in the UK and is a major ticket mover, Garcia hasn't shown a willingness to compete across the pond.

Third, Benn is signed to Zuffa Boxing. Promoter Dana White has made it clear he doesn't want to work with others, and for a Garcia clash, the UFC president would have to work alongside rival promoter Oscar De La Hoya, with whom he will never be exchanging Christmas cards. While it could happen on a Riyadh Season event, the odds are still extremely doubtful due to the animosity between the promoters.

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