By Brian Webber: Former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. says he believes Ryan Garcia can defeat undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney and former unified 135-lb champion Teofimo Lopez if they fought now.
Ruiz points out that the unbeaten #2 WBC Ryan (22-0, 18 KOs) has the ability to defeat the top names at 135, but he needs to be given the “opportunity” to show what he can do.
Tonight, Ryan is facing Javier Fortuna (37-3-1, 26 KOs) in a big test live on DAZN at the Crypto Arena in Los Angeles.
This fight is a test for the 23-year-old Ryan Garcia to show whether he deserves to share the ring with WBA ‘regular’ lightweight champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis or Devin Haney.
Up to now, the best fighter Ryan has faced is Luke Campbell in 2021, and that was a difficult fight for him. Campbell put Ryan on the canvas in the second round after landing a scorching left to the head.
If Campbell had gone for the finish after dropping Ryan, he might have knocked him out.
“He needed to be more aggressive, Kambosos, and he needed to throw his punches,” said Andy Ruiz Jr. to Fighthype when asked if George Kambosos Jr could defeat Devin Haney in their rematch.
“Devin Haney boxes too nice, he’s quick, and he doesn’t throw punches just to throw punches. He throws punches because they’re going to land. He’s smart, he’s young, and he’s got a bright future for him,” Ruiz continued.
Haney (28-0, 15 KOs) will be busy this year, and he won’t be available for Ryan to challenge him for his four titles until 2023.
Although Ryan said on Friday that “Belts don’t matter,” he still needs to win titles to convince the boxing public that he’s for real. If the best fighters in the 135-lb division hold titles, Ryan can’t ignore them.
“Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, Teofimo, Shakur, I think that would be a good fight,” said Ruiz when asked if Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis is the best fighter at lightweight.
“I think they [Haney & Tank Davis] sparred. I think that fight will be too technical. It’ll be really stood technical. But I want to see Teofimo and Devin Haney. If not, Teofimo and Ryan Garcia.
“Ryan Garcia needs to fight one of those guys so that he can get all the respect that he needs. A lot of people are talking s*** that he hasn’t ‘Fought this, he hasn’t fought.’ I feel like he [Ryan] hasn’t fought nobody, but if he fights those guys, he can win, bro. I’m telling you.
“I’m telling you, I have faith in him. He can win,” said Ruiz Jr about his belief that Ryan Garcia can beat Haney & Teofimo Lopez. “I know they’re talking a lot of crap here and there, but I feel if he [Ryan] gets in that position to fight them, he can win.
“Mayweather, nobody can say nothing about him. He’s the main guy that accomplished so much. I think he’s the pound-for-pound king, even though he’s not a fighter right now and is retired.
“He’s still the main guy,” said Ruiz Jr when told that Floyd Mayweather Jr. said this week that Ryan Garcia shouldn’t be talking about Canelo Alvarez unless he’s accomplished similar things as him.
“I feel like I’ve got to bounce back. I humbled myself. The main thing is to climb back on the ladders and become champion again. If I become champion again, I’m still not going to be talking s*** about anybody else. I think it’s just publicity.
“I think Ryan is a hell of a fighter. I think he can f*** a lot of these guys up and become champion. It’s just that he needs the opportunity to fight him,” said Ruiz about Ryan Garcia.
