Ryan Garcia has intensified his campaign to face Shakur Stevenson, insisting that the highly anticipated match take place at 140 pounds, the super lightweight division where Stevenson currently holds titles. After claiming the WBC welterweight title with a win over Mario Barrios, Garcia has focused solely on Stevenson as his desired next opponent. He vocalized this intention during a recent fight and has continued to amplify his call on social media.
The primary obstacle to the fight is the weight class. Stevenson recently transitioned to super lightweight, a division Garcia has not competed in since April 2024. In his latest tweet, Garcia made it clear: “Forget the catchweight s—. Let’s do it for real. I want to take your belt and snatch it right off you @shakurstevenson.” Despite no catchweight being proposed, the idea had emerged as a potential compromise for the fighters to meet in the ring.
Garcia’s Commitment to Make Weight
Stevenson, who was present ringside during Garcia’s callout, has hinted at a return to the lightweight division but has shown little enthusiasm for engaging with Garcia. The last time Garcia fought at 140 pounds, he faced significant challenges, missing weight by 3.2 pounds in a notable bout against Devin Haney. Garcia later acknowledged that he struggled to make the weight, stating that his body “wouldn’t let him” drop the additional pounds.
Now, two years later, Garcia asserts he can successfully make the weight limit, provided there is no rehydration clause involved. “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,” Garcia stated. “As long as there’s no rehydration clause, things will be going forward. Testing always included, I’d never shy away from that.” He also addressed Stevenson’s insinuations regarding performance-enhancing drugs, calling them defamatory and suggesting Stevenson is intimidated by the prospect of facing him.
Garcia’s Career Trajectory and Future Prospects
Throughout his career, Garcia has only once fought under a rehydration clause, which resulted in a seventh-round TKO loss to Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis in 2023. Initially starting his career as a super featherweight at 130 pounds, Garcia has since developed considerable muscle mass and appeared physically imposing against Barrios, who is one of the taller current welterweights.
While Garcia remains focused on securing a fight with Stevenson, many fans and analysts are calling for a rematch with Haney, which could become a more substantial event in 2026 if both fighters hold welterweight titles by then. The boxing community is eager to see how these developments unfold, particularly with Garcia’s commitment to return to the super lightweight division to challenge Stevenson.
