Isaac Cruz’s advisor wants the Ryan Garcia fight in January or February. December, the only date Garcia has put on the table, is not where his camp is looking.
Garcia made the offer on X on Saturday night, after Cruz stopped Nestor Bravo in the sixth round at Pechanga Arena in San Diego to retain his interim WBC super lightweight title in his first fight under trainer Eddy Reynoso. Garcia, who appeared on the DAZN broadcast, had predicted Cruz would lose.
“Bravo pit bull proved me wrong tonight,” Garcia wrote. “Let’s do this in December the offer is on the table. I can tame a lion I’m not to concerned about taming a pit bull.”
He followed it with an ultimatum and a version of the history between them.
“To make this very clear to the fans I’ve asked to fight pit bull twice and one time he was my mandatory and he has denied twice,” Garcia wrote. “This will be my last time ever attempting to give him a chance. My word is very clear and I’m plan with my whole heart to follow it. If he denies I’ll never entertain this again.”
Cruz sounded willing at the post-fight press conference.
“I’m here for the challenge. I’m more than ready. December, May, September, it doesn’t matter,” Cruz said. “The desire is there, and let’s make it happen.”
Pressed on December specifically, he deferred to his handlers and said his priority is arriving in the right condition.
Sean Gibbons, who advises Cruz, told BoxingScene the timeline needs work.
“The key is to see what happens with Dalton Smith, see what happens with Ryan, see what happens with Gervonta,” Gibbons said. “We’ve got to sit down and figure out what’s next, but it seems to me January or February is best. It’s business. You have to find the right time, the right money.”
That puts the two sides roughly two months apart on a fight Garcia says he will only offer once.
Three Months And Seven Pounds
The math is tight. Cruz fought on September 19, which leaves under three months to negotiate terms and run a full camp. He also holds a belt at 140 pounds and would have to come up to welterweight, where he is not ranked, which is why Garcia’s next opponent may need WBC approval.
Garcia fought a week earlier, stopping Conor Benn in two rounds in Las Vegas, and has said he does not want to sit idle until May. He has also opened talks with Gervonta Davis about a rematch at 147 pounds.
Cruz, for his part, was not impressed by what Garcia did to Benn.
“It’s not the same beating someone who isn’t known, a European opponent. It’s not the same facing a real Mexican,” he said.
