Ryan Garcia says Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz has ducked him three times, as the WBC welterweight champion's search for a December opponent takes a bitter turn. Garcia, fresh off a second-round stoppage of Conor Benn on September 12 in Las Vegas, had made Cruz his top target for the end of the year — until the Mexican's silence spoke louder than his callout.
Cruz Called Him Out — Then Went Quiet
The irony is hard to miss. After knocking out Nestor Bravo in the sixth round on September 19, Cruz looked straight into the camera and called Garcia out: "Hey Ryan, I'm here. My next fight is with you." Garcia answered within hours on X: "Let's do this in December, the offer's on the table."
But in a clip captured by Ring Magazine, Garcia now says Cruz has turned down the fight three times: "Pitbull do not want it, my guy. I told you that I am going to give him one more chance and he has ducked three times. Once you've ducked three times, bro, there is nothing more to say. He ducked, that's it, bro ducked for sure."
Some observers are skeptical. As Boxing247 noted, Cruz holds an interim title at 140 pounds while Garcia holds the WBC belt at 147 — and the weight, date, and terms of Garcia's offers have never been made public. A December turnaround is also a much easier ask for Garcia, who took little punishment in a two-round win, than for Cruz, who went six hard rounds with Bravo.
Lopez Wants May, Garcia Wants December
Garcia's other dream opponent, WBA champion Teofimo Lopez, is also slipping away. Garcia has campaigned for a welterweight unification bout, but Lopez — who won his title from Rolando Romero in August — says May 2027 is the ideal window. Complicating matters, the WBA has ordered Lopez to face Jack Catterall next, with negotiations ending October 22. Lopez could fight Catterall, seek an exception, or vacate the belt.
The Pacquiao Netflix Offer
Never one to stay out of the headlines, Garcia also volunteered to fight Manny Pacquiao on Netflix on December 11 if the Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua bout falls apart. "Put me and Manny Pacquiao on Netflix — we'll save the day," he said on a recent livestream. It remains a contingency he floated publicly rather than a real negotiation.
Benn Camp: No Excuses
Meanwhile, Conor Benn's trainer Tony Sims gave an honest verdict on the September loss, telling Boxing News that Benn "got caught with an unbelievable shot, that's boxing," adding he felt the stoppage was "a bit early" but making no excuses. Benn is expected to return at middleweight before pursuing a trilogy with Chris Eubank Jr.
For Garcia, the math is simple: a third win in 2026 — after Barrios and Benn — would strengthen his case for Fighter of the Year. Whoever signs for December gets the call.
Watch: Pitbull Cruz challenges Ryan Garcia after KO win — Bleacher Report