What Now? Ryan Garcia Calls Out Stevenson, Who Calls Out Haney
Editorial By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Post fight, after defeating Mario Barrios to win the World Boxing Council World Welterweight title this past weekend, on February 21, 2026, Ryan Garcia told the commentator in the ring interview, “You know who I want. He’s right there (ringside). C’mon! Let’s go. Let’s run that sh#t. Hey! I want to be a great champion. I’m not afraid of anybody! I fought Devin Haney! I’ll fight Shakur Stevenson. I’ll fight anybody! Let’s f#cking go!”
The ring commentator then told Garcia that Shakur Stevenson says he is levels above you. Garcia replied “You got to have some kind of punching style to keep me off you. I want that fight with Shakur! Let’s get it on. I like the hat! (your hat). That’s fly, but I want the work (an immediate bout with you). Let’s get it (on!)” said Garcia. Several days before the Barrios bout, Garcia told Ring Magazine he would be willing to drop three pounds to fight Stevenson at super lightweight (at a catchweight).
Stevenson responded “Let’s make it happen!” The bout makes unbelievable PPV sense.
Meanwhile, several days ago, World Boxing Organisation World Super Lightweight champion Stevenson had already called out Devin Haney, while insisting a rehydration clause be removed, and the same three-pound drop proposed by Garcia be honored in a future Stevenson versus Haney clash. Stevenson told Ring Magazine, “I think the Devin Haney fight is a big fight. I think it’s just got to make sense. With Ryan Garcia, he (Haney) has just said he would come down to 144 pounds. So, if [Haney] comes (down in weight) to do that and it (a super bout) makes sense, let’s do it.”
The question remaining for 2026 down the road this year is which bout comes first. It appears Ryan Garcia versus Shakur Stevenson comes first, and then the winner fights Haney. True, Haney would welcome a rematch of the controversial Haney versus Garcia no-decision initially won by Garcia, which made Haney look bad before the outcome was reversed. Stevenson versus Haney would be worth mega money in any weight class. With Gervonta (Tank) Davis out of the loop and Garcia back in, all that remains is for the promoters and the principals to sign the contracts and come to terms. Ryan Garcia is back on top of his game, and by moving forward with his father restored as trainer, he got the Joe Goossen monkey off his back and silenced the critics.
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Robert Brizel – Head Boxing Correspondent