Ryan Garcia has accepted a fight that everyone involved hopes leads to the dramatic rematch the entire boxing world wants to see.
Turki Alalshikh, owner of The Ring and head of Riyadh Season, announced through his X account early Thursday morning that Garcia has signed a contract for his next fight. The Ring has been informed that Garcia and rival Devin Haney will be showcased against opponents to be revealed as part of a May card somewhere in the United States.
If Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs, 1 NC), who was shown signing a contract in the photograph Alalshikh attached to his message on X, and Haney (31-0, 15 KOs, 1 NC) win their respective bouts, they will advance to an October rematch of their controversial no-contest last April 20.
The October rematch will take place in Saudi Arabia and open up this year's Riyadh Season.
In their heated encounter, Garcia dropped Haney three times that night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn and won their welterweight bout by majority decision, only to have the New York State Athletic Commission change the official result of that 12-rounder to a no-contest because Garcia tested positive for ostarine, a banned substance.
The NYSAC subsequently suspended Garcia for a year and fined him $1.2 million. His return to the ring in May is scheduled for soon after his ban from boxing is set to end.
Haney, of Henderson, Nevada, and Garcia, of Victorville, California, openly discussed their desire to fight each other again last Saturday night during The Ring’s inaugural awards gala at Old Royal Naval College in London. Alalshikh and members of his team helped close deals for the abovementioned doubleheader that will feature Haney and Garcia, as well as several other high-profile fights – including the big British showdown between family rivals Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr.
Keith Idec is a staff writer for The Ring. He can be reached on X @idecboxing.