Ryan Garcia had a unique counter to Shakur Stevenson’s weight limit and rehydration demands.
The newly minted WBC 147lbs titlist is adamant about a showdown with Stevenson, 25-0 (11 KOs) – a four-division and reigning lineal, RING and WBO 140lbs king. Both boxers spoke passionately about meeting in the ring, whether straightaway or shortly down the road.
Stevenson was part of the DAZN pay-per-view broadcast team for Garcia’s lopsided win over Mario Barrios on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The unbeaten southpaw from Newark, New Jersey explicitly stated on-air his willingness to next face Garcia, though at a proposed catchweight of 144lbs, and of course with full VADA testing (Garcia and Barrios were both contracted to the random testing service for their fight).
The offer to meet in the middle was understandable – Stevenson just moved up to 140, while Garcia, 25-2 (20 KOs), seems healthily filled out at welterweight. Still, the 26-year-old fighting pride of Victorville, California had an even better solution for his fellow young gun.
“Forget the catchweight shit,” Garcia said of their proposed clash. “Let’s do it [for real]. I want to take your belt and snatch it right off you.”
Garcia previously fought at 140lbs from 2022-2024, with a one-off catchweight clash versus Gervonta Davis – their superfight in April 2023 took place at a 136lbs weight limit, and saw Garcia suffer his first career defeat via seventh-round knockout.
The end of his run at junior welterweight could not have been more disastrous. Garcia badly blew weight ahead of an attempted title challenge of then-unbeaten WBC 140lbs titlist Devin Haney at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York in April 2024. The fight moved forward, with Garcia initially hailed a majority decision winner but ineligible to fight for Haney’s WBC belt.
The verdict was overturned to a no contest after it was learned Garcia tested positive for ostarine, for which he earned a one-year suspension.
Two fights have followed at welterweight – an upset defeat by Rolando Romero in May 2025 in New York City, and his dominant showing versus Barrios, where he weighed 146.5lbs.
Garcia has weighed well above the junior-welterweight limit in each of his past four fights. That includes an originally planned secondary WBA 140lbs title fight with Oscar Duarte in December 2023, which was modified during fight week to a 143lbs catchweight.
If it means a chance to take what Stevenson, 28, holds, though, Garcia is ready to add another chapter to his current redemption story.
“To those that are worried about the 140lbs weight, I will tell you this,” stated Garcia. “It was my plan to be able to also win at 140. As long as there’s no rehydration clause things will be going forward.
“Testing always included, I’ve never [shied] away from that. For Shakur to assume I’m on steroids, that is defamation. So I would advise you to refrain yourself, I know you are deep down scared and you should have fear. I’m coming for you. Fear the lord.”
