The day Ryan Garcia took his first career loss to Gervonta Davis in 2023, some things changed for him. He jumped up two weight classes, and just seven months later, he made a statement with a brutal third-round TKO against Oscar Duarte Jurado. Then came his clash with Devin Haney last April, where he put The Dream on the canvas three times. But as we all know, the tide turned, and after testing positive for PEDs, Garcia found himself sidelined with a one-year suspension.
Fast forward to today, and Ryan Garcia isn’t just twiddling his thumbs—he’s got his future mapped out. With a two-fight deal under his belt, courtesy of His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, King Ry is gearing up for his big comeback. His first stop? A showdown with Rolando “Rolly” Romero on May 2 at the Fatal Fury event, the very same card where his longtime rival Devin Haney will go toe-to-toe with José Carlos Ramírez. If both men walk away with a win, we could finally see them settle the score once and for all.
But here’s the kicker—Ryan Garcia’s focus seems to have already drifted away from Devin Haney and landed squarely on Shakur Stevenson. And if you’re wondering why, don’t worry—we’ve got all the answers.
Ryan Garcia eyes Shakur Stevenson for redemption
A few hours ago, boxing insider Hassan dropped a short clip of Ryan Garcia on X, where the 24-1, 20 KO star made a bold statement—he wants Shakur Stevenson next. His reason? Simple. “Because that’s somebody I had competition with since amateurs. I feel like he’s rising up as well.”
Ryan Garcia said Shakur Stevenson is one of the fighters on his hit list because they been in competition since the amateurs and Shakur is on the come up right now pic.twitter.com/UC2LQx6noQ
— Hassan (@Hassanwellss) March 21, 2025
If you didn’t know, Shakur Stevenson handed Garcia a loss back in their amateur days at the 2013 U.S. Junior National Selection Tournament Semi-Final. And now that Stevenson holds the WBC Lightweight title, Garcia sees an opportunity to finally settle the score. But let’s be real—this fight isn’t happening anytime soon. The Newark native’s last performance against Josh Padley in Riyadh, a last-minute replacement, left fans questioning his dominance. Meanwhile, Ryan has his own plans, recently calling out the Baltimore native with a catch—Tank would have to move up to 147 lbs.
Here’s the problem: Shakur Stevenson, like Tank Davis, fights at 135 lbs. That means unless the WBA Lightweight champion agrees to move up two weight classes (which is a huge ask), or Ryan somehow drops back down to lightweight (which isn’t happening), this fight is nothing more than a dream matchup—for now. But hey, this is boxing, and anything can happen. If it does, we’re in for a spectacle—Shakur’s defensive wizardry vs. Ryan’s explosive power.
However, there’s one man who’s not too happy about King Ry calling out the 23-0, 11 KO boxer. Terence Crawford. And his reason? Well, let’s just say he has a very different idea of who the 27-year-old should be fighting next.
Ryan Garcia has no reason to wait for Shakur Stevenson because…
Boxing has its own brotherhood, and Terence Crawford, Andre Ward, and Shakur Stevenson are part of that tight-knit circle. Ward, a legend in his own right, was Stevenson’s manager when he turned pro in 2017. And Bud Crawford? He’s been like a big brother, guiding him through the highs and lows of his career. So, it’s no surprise that Bud has Stevenson’s back.
Right now, there’s a lot of talk about Stevenson needing a big-name opponent. Even Gervonta Davis—one of the biggest names in the lightweight division—has said Stevenson needs to step up his resume. But while Stevenson has called him out, Tank hasn’t shown much interest. However, Terence Crawford just made a strong case for why the Newark southpaw deserves more respect.
In a recent chat with The Ring, Crawford shared his thoughts on the stacked lightweight division. With names like Gervonta Davis, Vasiliy Lomachenko, Keyshawn Davis, and, of course, Shakur Stevenson, the competition is fierce. But if you ask Crawford who stands out the most, his answer is clear: Shakur.
“I talked to him [Stevenson] and told him just be yourself you know, just keep winning. It doesn’t matter what the naysayers say and what the people that’s having certain agendas against him have to say,” Crawford said. He believes Stevenson is special—so special that other fighters try to force him into fighting their style just to make things even. “There’s no fighter in history that I can remember to have a style like Shakur Stevenson,” Crawford insisted.
And if there’s anyone who knows what true talent looks like, it’s Terence Crawford. So when Crawford praises Stevenson, he’s not just hyping him up—he’s recognizing something truly unique.
So what do you think? Should Ryan Garcia focus on Devin Haney instead of calling out Shakur Stevenson? And, was Terence Crawford right about Shakur Stevenson being the most unique fighter in boxing today? Do let us know your thoughts below.
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