Ryan Garcia feels that his former training partner Canelo Alvarez would and should fight David Benavidez.
Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) is in the midst of promoting his April 20 fight against Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) in New York, and Garcia stopped by the popular morning radio show The Breakfast Club on Power 105.1 FM, where he discussed Canelo.
“He has to fight Benavidez to keep boxing going,” said Garcia.
Then, when asked by one of the hosts whether Canelo “has to” fight Benavidez, Garcia quickly responded, “I think he has to.
“Who wants to live in the past? This [is] now. This is the biggest fight to make… You’re Canelo, the face of boxing. Why aren’t you doing it?”
When asked who would win, Garcia wasted no time in choosing future Hall of Famer Canelo..
“Canelo, unless he waits too long,” Garcia added, indicating that timing was important.
“It is not going to be easy, and Canelo will get touched up, but I think his experience [will win him the fight].”
Garcia worked with Eddy Reynoso, who is also Canelo’s trainer and advisor. Garcia then went to Joe Goossen, but left after his loss to Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Garcia is now in his second training camp with Texan Derrick James.
Canelo has yet to announce his next move, since news began to spread about his departure from PBC.
Garcia no longer has a close relationship with Canelo Alvarez since leaving the team.
The 25-year-old pro boxer added: “I don’t know [what caused the rift]. He would just say little s*** about me. It’s crazy. [Why not] Just call me up and tell me you need to be doing this. I went through a real mental health crisis. I don’t care what anybody says, that was real. They can say I faked it all they want. They weren’t in my shoes. You didn’t feel the things I felt. I took it on the chin though, but he made me look like a clown.”