- Ryan Garcia shocked the boxing world with a stunning majority decision upset over Devin Haney.
- Haney demanded a rematch for the WBC super lightweight title after Garcia missed weight.
- Online betting sites favor Sebastian Fundora as Garcia’s next opponent.
Following a remarkable upset over Devin Haney (31-1-0), all eyes are on Ryan Garcia’s (25-1-0) next move. According to Bovada, the 25-year-old native of Los Alamitos, CA, is favored to fight Sebastian Fundora in his next bout.
Currently, the 26-year-old Fundora is a +325 betting favorite to face Garcia. At this price, the implied probability of this fight happening next is 23.5%. Following Fundora, Teofimo Lopez (+500), Shakur Stevenson (+500), and even Jake Paul (+950) are possible opponents.
It’s worth noting that UFC’s Sean O’Malley, who shares a similar carefree personality as Garcia, has +2000 odds to fight the new hottest name in boxing!
Garcia mentioned him as a potential opponent, but O’Malley is likely focused on MMA, while the boxer wants to prove himself before stepping into the ring with “Suga”.
Garcia Calls Out Fundora Before Haney Fight
Before Garcia scored three knockdowns and the judges named him the majority decision winner, he was already looking forward to his next fight.
In a press conference for the Haney fight, a reporter asked if Garcia had his eyes on his next opponent. “I’m moving up to 154 to knock out [Sebastian] Fundora,” Garcia said.
It’s a lofty aspiration for Garcia who weighed in at 143.2 pounds for the Haney fight. Due to Garcia eclipsing the 140-pound limit, the WBC super lightweight title was not up for grabs. Despite the loss, the champ regained his belt because of Garcia’s missed weight.
Per Garcia, he has plans to bulk up even more and head all the way up to 154 pounds. That would solve one obstacle in his quest to fight the WBC and WBO junior middleweight champion.
In what is regarded as the fight of the year in 2024 thus far, Fundora defeated Tim Tszyu in a bloody battle in March. At 6-foot-6, he would hold a sizable height advantage over the shorter Garcia.
In any event, the fight would sell PPVs after the American’s decisive win over Haney. Garcia and Fundora are two of the most talked about names in boxing at the moment.
The Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk fight next month promises to steal some of the spotlight away from Garcia, but the victory over Haney changed his status for good.
Haney Wants A Rematch With Garcia
While Garcia is already thinking about his next opponent, Haney hopes to receive a rematch sooner rather than later.
I would love a rematch. I gave him a shot, it’s only right that he gives me a shot back. He didn’t make weight so I’m still the champion. We can run it back.
Garcia beat Haney down in the fight as a massive +600 underdog! With just an implied probability to win of 14.3%, he rocked his opponent with a punishing performance in Brooklyn. Would Haney be ready to get straight back in the ring with Garcia?
Currently, there aren’t odds of Haney being Garcia’s next match, so oddsmakers are not confident that this will happen. Nor is he looking forward to another fight after dismantling his opponent for a majority decision victory.
Garcia admitted to reporters that his body went through a lot to attempt to get down to 140 pounds. This included drinking every night to prepare to fight Haney on Saturday night.
I don’t give a f*ck what people say about me. I walked through the fire, and still held it down and still beat f*cking Devin Haney, and still drank every day and still beat him and. I did everything.
That doesn’t sound like a fighter interested in dropping to 140 pounds for a title shot against Haney. Promoters would love to book a Fundora vs. Garcia bout, but there are hurdles to clear first.
