New welterweight champion says he wants to stay active following title victory
Ryan Garcia says he wants his next fight quickly after winning the WBC welterweight title. The champion posted on social media calling for another bout as he looks to stay active.
“I want to fight to fight so bad 😩 I feel even more now that I have a belt. THE CHAMP wants to fight. SOMEONE RUN THE SCRAP” said Ryan Garcia on X.
Ryan is likely doing a lot of talking to ensure he doesn’t get stuck with a mandatory defense that pays peanuts. By demanding Conor Benn or big-name rematches, he’s forcing the hand of his promoters.
The reality is that Ryan has the WBC belt, but the division is currently a waiting game. Unless someone like Turki Alalshikh decides Benn is worth the investment despite the Regis Prograis struggle, Ryan might find himself staring at a stay-busy fight that he definitely doesn’t want.
If Ryan had that “fight anyone, anywhere” mentality, he wouldn’t be in this situation. A “Sugar Ray Robinson” would have already signed to fight the most dangerous guy available just to prove a point.
Ryan’s current situation is a perfect example of a fighter being trapped by his own financial expectations. Because he has such a massive following, he feels he can’t take a “normal” title defense without it being a blockbuster event.
It’s telling that Ryan’s interest in Benn spiked right after Benn looked beatable against Regis Prograis on April 11. It’s the business-first mindset. He’s looking for the highest payout with the least amount of technical risk.
By dismissing Rolly Romero as an option but chasing a guy who just got his eyes cut by a 37-year-old Prograis, Ryan is showing his hand. He wants a name he thinks he can beat comfortably.