Ryan Garcia and Isaac Cruz have been linked to a showdown for the WBC welterweight title, and world-renowned trainer Abel Sanchez has shared his thoughts, believing that one man should steer well clear of the proposed bout.
Garcia made a first defence of his WBC crown when he halted Conor Benn inside two rounds earlier this month, while ‘Pitbull’ Cruz defended his WBC Interim super-lightweight title with a sixth-round stoppage of Nestor Bravo the following week, before calling for a shot at Garcia in the post-fight interview.
Since then, Garcia’s other rumoured opponent and fellow welterweight world champion, Teofimo Lopez, has been ordered to defend his WBA title against Jack Catterall, ruling him out of a proposed December dust-up – unless he vacates his belt.
Therefore, Cruz is currently considered to be the frontrunner for Garcia’s quick turnaround but Sanchez – who has trained a total of 20 world champions and masterminded Filip Hrgovic’s recent triumph over Moses Itauma – told Fight Hub TV that the Mexican should remain at 140lbs.
“Any one of the 140lbers is probably a better idea than [for Cruz than fighting] Ryan. I think that he needs to stay away from Ryan. Ryan knocks him out.
“Just in what I saw on Saturday [against Bravo], Ryan is too much fighter for him. He is too big, too strong, too rangy, smarter.
“[Against] any of the other guys, his [Cruz’s] pressure will keep him in the fight, as long as he stays controlled and not in a wrestling match like he was – I think that he has a chance against any of the 140lbers.”
Garcia has now claimed that Cruz is avoiding the fight, despite previously calling for it, but it remains to be seen whether a December fight date will go ahead and if Cruz is willing to participate.
