Devin Haney has offered his perspective on the staggering claims made by Ryan Garcia regarding a potential high-profile showdown against American boxing icon Floyd Mayweather Jr., after Garcia publicly asserted that the blockbuster bout is officially on for next year.
The landscape of the welterweight division has experienced continuous shifts over recent seasons, marked heavily by the fallout of the high-profile 2023 encounter between Garcia and Haney. Initially, Garcia secured a victory over Haney in that bout, but the result was later overturned to an official no contest after it was discovered that Garcia had tested positive for a banned substance.
Following that controversy, Garcia served a year-long suspension from the sport. Upon his return, he faced a difficult setback when he lost to Rolando Romero in his debut at welterweight. However, the controversial star bounced back significantly by putting together an impressive run of performances, culminating in a victory over Mario Barrios to capture the prestigious WBC world belt earlier this year. He further cemented his resurgence and elevated his stock by securing a quick knockout victory over Conor Benn for his first successful defense, pushing his star power to unprecedented heights within the sport.
With a highly anticipated unification fight against Teofimo Lopez now thrown into serious doubt, Garcia has shifted the narrative by claiming he will bring the undefeated US boxing icon Floyd Mayweather out of retirement for a lucrative professional fight in February 2027.
Haney, who has made no secret of his desire to secure a rematch with Garcia to settle their unfinished business inside the ring, recently addressed the rumors in an interview with Inside the Ring. Haney admitted that while he believes Mayweather possesses the skill set to emerge victorious even at the age of 49, he ultimately remains skeptical that the unorthodox matchup will ever materialize.
Reflecting on the feasibility of the bout, Haney offered a candid assessment of the situation. “That’s a good question. It’s hard for me. Can it really happen? Will it really happen? I don’t know. I think he can win, but will it happen? I don’t think it will.”
Furthermore, Haney outlined his own ambitions regarding the potential fallout of such a bout. The former world champion added that if Mayweather were to take the fight against Garcia and successfully capture the title, he would happily step into the ring against the legendary veteran to challenge for the belt and ultimately establish himself as the undisputed welterweight world champion.
Should the bout come to fruition and proceed according to the proposed timeline, the historical implications would be immense. Depending on the exact date and circumstances, a victory for Mayweather could see him surpass legendary former multi-division champion Bernard Hopkins to become the oldest world champion in the history of professional boxing. The potential for history to be rewritten has already caught the attention of boxing’s governing bodies. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman has publicly stated that, pending the acquisition of a proper boxing license and the successful completion of all necessary medical examinations, the fight would be officially sanctioned for Garcia’s WBC world title.
What has Mayweather said?
While Ryan Garcia has been vocal and confident about the prospects of a 2027 showdown, Floyd Mayweather has taken a noticeably more measured and less bullish stance regarding the fight actually taking place. Despite his caution, the legendary undefeated fighter has notably included Garcia on a short list of potential high-profile bouts that he is considering for the year 2027.
In addition to mentioning Garcia, Mayweather has floated several other massive names and potential rematches for his prospective return to the spotlight. Among the possibilities he has discussed are a renewed meeting with longtime rival Manny Pacquiao—a potential rematch that was previously announced before ultimately falling apart due to various legal and promotional complications—as well as potential blockbuster encounters against former dual-weight UFC champion Conor McGregor and Mexican superstar Oscar De La Hoya.
Before any potential professional clash with Garcia or other major names can materialize, Mayweather appears set to test the waters with an active exhibition appearance. The 49-year-old icon is currently scheduled to compete in an exhibition bout against Australia’s Matt Floyd, an event that has been officially announced to take place on December 19 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Despite Mayweather’s public hints and occasional statements regarding a formal return to professional boxing, a significant portion of the boxing community, including dedicated fans and veteran analysts, remain deeply skeptical. Many observers view these ongoing talks as typical promotional maneuvers rather than concrete plans for a sanctioned professional comeback, leaving the ultimate fate of the rumored Ryan Garcia bout shrouded in uncertainty as the sport looks ahead to the coming years.
