After stopping Oscar Duarte in December, the wheels were in motion for Ryan Garcia to step up and fight Devin Haney for Haney’s WBC super-lightweight title in March.
In a tweet from Garcia Saturday, however, it appears he is looking elsewhere.
“I’ve notified my team I’m going a different route,” Garcia wrote. “My intent now is to fight Rolando Romero. I pray my team backs me on this decision. Oscar make this fight happen. THATS THE MOVE. BIGGER FIGHT, BIGGER BUSINESS”. #GarciaRomero
Haney wasted no time responding to Garcia, which sent boxing Twitter into a frenzy.
“Don’t ever mention my name p**** boi,” Haney wrote.
Both tweets have millions of views between the two fanbases at press time, making a potential grudge match inevitable.
This exchange was news to Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya, who was in Las Vegas, Nev., for DAZN’S first event of the year, headlined by Vergil Ortiz and Fredrick Lawson.
“I haven’t spoken to him whatsoever,” De La Hoya said. “I don’t know exactly what’s happening with him and his team. He has an advisor and he has other people whispering in his ear. I’m here whenever he wants to talk. But my specific instructions two weeks ago were, ‘Oscar, get me Haney.’”
Haney is coming off another masterclass performance against Regis Prograis, which also took place in December. Before the fight, Haney told ESPN he would take his talents elsewhere and no longer be the undisputed king at lightweight.