Ryan Garcia got off to an early start promoting his return against Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz in May, saying he “A more difficult match than Hani.In this case, Garcia (24-1, 20 KO) may be right. Garcia speaks facts.
Stronger than Hani?
Pitbull will be a much tougher fight for Ryan than Haney, because this guy has a chin of steel, and he can punch. He will not try to grab and claw his way to victory as Hani was trying to do.
Cruz took the best shots of Gervonta Davis and went the distance 12 rounds in a losing effort on December 5, 2021. He was never hurt in that fight with the unanimous decision loss.
In Cruz's eighth-round knockout win over Rolando “Rolly” Romero last year on March 30, he landed a lot of hard blows that would have taken down a lot of fighters, including Haney. In Cruz's last fight, he was knocked out by Jose Rayo Valenzuela, losing a 12-round split decision on August 3.
Cruz's three losses
– Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela
-Gervonta Davis
– Luis Montano Alvarez
Ryan will face former WBA light welterweight champion “Pitbull” Cruz next May in a double bout in New York's Times Square. The event will be shown on DAZN PPV. Haney will fight Jose Ramirez on the same card in his fight to set up a rematch with Ryan in October.
Haney was no match for Ryan in their fight on April 20 last year, and the only reason there is a rematch planned for October is because of Kingry's failed PED test. For a one-sided fight like Hani Garcia, there are usually no rematches.
Cruz (26-3-1, 18 KOs) has a good chin and will push Ryan nonstop throughout the fight. Pitbull won't try to clinch a no-holds-barred jab or strike like Haney did because he's not that type of fighter. It entertains and does not bore the audience.
Hani's boring tactics
Both Haney's fights against George Kambosos Jr. and his fight against Regis Prograis were unwatchable because of everything he was doing. He was doing a lot of that against Ryan, most noticeably after falling to No. 7. Interestingly, referee Harvey Duke punished Garcia for hitting on the break in the seventh inning but did not address whatever Haney was doing.
Ryan won the fight by scores of 112-112, 114-110 and 115-109.
I bring an explosive fight into my combat comeback
The pitbull has always been considered a difficult opponent.
Harder match then Hani tbh
– Ryan Garcia (@RyanGarcia) January 17, 2025
