Ryan Garcia has intensified his pursuit of a showdown with Shakur Stevenson, expressing a strong desire to face him for the WBO and The Ring super lightweight title. Following his victory over Mario Barrios to claim the WBC welterweight championship, Garcia has consistently identified Stevenson as his next target. The fighter has voiced this ambition both in the ring and on social media platforms, firmly stating his intentions.
Garcia Ready to Make Weight for the Fight
The primary obstacle in organizing this bout appears to be the weight class. Stevenson recently transitioned to super lightweight, a division where Garcia has not competed since April 2024. In a bid to facilitate the fight, Garcia asserted that he would return to 140 pounds, insisting that he is prepared to compete in this category without any rehydration clauses. “Forget the catchweight s—,” Garcia tweeted. “Let’s do it for real. I want to take your belt and snatch it right off you @shakurstevenson.” Although a catchweight was never officially suggested, it seemed to be a potential compromise for the two fighters to meet in the ring.
Stevenson, who was present ringside during Garcia’s callout, has remained noncommittal about the matchup. He has indicated an interest in returning to the lightweight division, which may complicate the possibility of a duel with Garcia. The last time Garcia fought at 140 pounds, he missed weight by 3.2 pounds in his notorious bout against Devin Haney, a situation he attributed to his body’s inability to shed the extra weight.
Garcia’s Commitment to the Super Lightweight Division
Despite previous challenges, Garcia claims that he can successfully make the weight necessary for a fight against Stevenson. He stated, “To those worried about the 140-pound weight, I will tell you this, it was my plan to be able to also win at 140. As long as there’s no rehydration clause, things will be going forward.” He emphasized his readiness for rigorous testing, addressing concerns about performance-enhancing drugs, and urged Stevenson to refrain from making accusations that he labeled as defamatory.
Garcia’s only experience with a rehydration clause came during his loss to Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis in 2023, where he succumbed in the seventh round. Since then, Garcia has transitioned from a super featherweight at 130 pounds, gaining substantial muscle mass, and he appeared to hold his own against Barrios, who is among the tallest active welterweights.
While Garcia continues to focus on Stevenson, there remains a strong public interest in a rematch against Haney. A potential rematch could gain further traction by 2026, with both fighters possibly holding welterweight titles at that time, setting the stage for a highly anticipated confrontation.
