‘You’ll be back’: Ryan Garcia swerves Haney, targeting Romero again

Ryan Garcia is back to negotiating for a fight with Rolando Romero.

Ryan Garcia sure is making a lot of waves so far in 2024, and the newest, actually boxing-related thing has seen “Kingry” decide to move away from negotiations to face Devin Haney, instead turning his gaze back to Rolando Romero.

“I’ve notified my team I’m going a different route,” Garcia said on social media. “My intention now is to fight Rolando Romero. I pray my team backs me on this decision. Oscar, make the fight happen. That’s the move. Bigger fight, bigger business.”

Garcia (24-1, 20 KO) had named WBA 140 lb titleholder Romero as his target last month, before changing his gaze to WBC titleholder Haney, after polling fans as to what they’d prefer.

But he’s back to Romero (15-1, 13 KO), who hasn’t defended the belt he controversially won against Ismael Barroso eight months ago.

“After what happens with Rollies, the Dev fight will be there and even bigger. Everyone critiquing now will end up seeing it was a better move,” Garcia added. “Plus he can go fight Richardson Hitchins. Go do your 30K PPV buys. I don’t need you, Dev, you need me.”

Haney (31-0, 15 KO) made very clear how he feels about the situation: “Don’t ever mention my name, p***y boi,” he replied to Garcia.

“You’ll be back,” Garcia responded, adding another dig at the supposed 30,000 PPV buys that Haney’s fight with Regis Prograis did in December.

Romero posted a fan art poster for a fight with Garcia with the hashtag “Spring 2024.”

It’s all enough to make a reasonable skeptic — this is boxing, after all, not some sort of organized sport — wonder if Garcia, who also once passed on a WBC mandatory order to face Haney when both were at 135, ever had any legitimate intention of fighting Haney, or if he just wanted to look like he was seriously considering it after fans made clear they’d rather see that fight than Romero.

Ultimately, it doesn’t much matter for now. It’s clear Garcia wants Romero next, and Romero seems up for it. For now, anyway.