INJURY UPDATE: RYAN GARCIA DODGES SURGERY; CLEARED FOR MASSIVE JULY RING RETURN
After clinching the WBC title, Ryan Garcia's hand is confirmed as "not broken," clearing the path for a 144lb catchweight mega-fight.
Ryan Garcia dodged a broken hand after his world title win over Mario Barrios, even though his hand looked pretty rough right after the fight.
That night in February was huge for Garcia. He dropped Barrios, dominated the fight, and finally got his hands on a world championship belt.
But right after the final bell, Garcia couldn’t hide the pain. His hand was swollen, and a lot of people figured it was broken. When he pulled off his glove, it looked even worse – bad enough that you’d expect the worst.
Turns out, he got lucky. Boxing reporter Mike Coppinger says Garcia’s hand isn’t broken after all. His advisor, Guadalupe Valencia, told Ring Magazine it’s just a light sprain. That’s a relief, and it means Garcia can look at a July return to the ring.
So, no rematch with Barrios. Garcia is free to chase some of the bigger names in the division, and honestly, that’s what fans want to see.
First up, there’s Conor Benn, who’s the mandatory challenger for Garcia’s WBC belt. But Benn is already booked for an April fight against Regis Prograis at 150 pounds. Since Benn only has a one-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing, his next move isn’t clear, so a summer fight with Garcia is up in the air.
But Garcia seems to have someone else in mind anyway. After his win, he immediately called out Shakur Stevenson. Stevenson just picked up the WBO title at 140 pounds after a big win over Teofimo Lopez. Now, a fight between these two is actually on the table.
Stevenson isn’t shy about what he wants, though. He’s made it clear he wants VADA drug testing and a catchweight of 144 pounds for the fight. Here’s what he said: “Was VADA involved in this fight? I saw him with Rolly; he didn’t look like that. If he’s fighting me next, I’m all for the challenge, but VADA will be involved.
“We’ll meet in the middle at 144 pounds. Two big stars – we don’t need a belt for the fight.
“I think it’s a great fight to make. I’m in this for big fights. Ryan and I would have an even bigger fight, and it would be a tremendous fight.
"I want to fight him, and he wants to fight me, so it should be easy to get it done. We’ve just got to make sure he’s on VADA, and there’s no cheating involved.”
DISCOVER: WILL XANDER ZAYAS RETIRE IF HE LOSES TO JARON ENNIS IN NEW YORK?
Xander Zayas vs Jaron Boots Ennis, Barclays Centre boxing, June 2026, Zayas vs Ennis tickets
Xander Zayas and Jaron "Boots" Ennis are about to clash in what’s shaping up to be one of the biggest U.S. boxing matches this summer.
Zayas puts his unified WBA and WBO super welterweight titles on the line against Ennis, the former WBA and IBF welterweight champ. Ennis is making a run at world titles in a second weight class, which just adds another layer to this fight.
Ennis was originally set to face Vergil Ortiz Jr. That matchup had everyone talking, but things fell apart over a purse dispute. Ortiz Jr's manager, Ricky Mirigan, wasn’t happy with the offer, and drama erupted when Ortiz Jr sued his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, claiming breach of contract and “interference with economic advantage". De La Hoya fired back, countersuing Mirigan for allegedly meddling with Ortiz Jr.’s contract behind the scenes. With lawsuits flying, the fight crumbled, and Ennis moved on. Now he’s set to face Zayas for two of the four major belts in the division.
Zayas and Ennis meet on Saturday, June 27, at Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, New York. Expect the main event ring walks around 10 p.m. EDT, which is 3 a.m. GMT for UK fans tuning in overnight.
The undercard details are still a mystery, but we do know Ben Whittaker is making his first U.S. appearance on the show.
Both fighters aren’t shy about their ambitions. Zayas said, “It’s always been about legacy – becoming the youngest world champion at 22, the youngest unified champ, and now taking on one of the best in my division. Anyone can chase easy wins, but I want to fight the best. I want to prove I’m the best every time I get in the ring. That’s exactly what I’m going to do on June 27.”
Ennis didn’t hold back, either: “I think Xander’s bitten off way more than he can chew. Come fight night, he’ll figure that out. I’m going to show everyone I’m the best in the world. Watching me is one thing, but once you’re in the ring, it’s a whole different story. I’m faster than he thinks and stronger, and I have a better boxing IQ. He’s in for a long night.”
MANNY PACQUIAO BELIEVES HIS ELITE SPEED WOULD HAVE EASILY DISMANTLED ERROL SPENCE JR.
Manny Pacquiao reveals why he would have "easily beaten" Errol Spence Jr. and shares the secret to his 8-division success.
Manny Pacquiao didn’t need much time to give his take on a fantasy matchup with Errol Spence Jr. If their rumoured 2021 fight actually happened, Pacquiao says he knows how it would have played out.
Back then, Spence was already a big deal. He was a unified welterweight champ, a local hero in Texas, and he’d built up hype with Dallas Cowboys players and musicians. Undefeated, 27 wins with 21 knockouts. His star was on the rise in the US, and Pacquiao was the perfect name to take him to that next level, just like when Pacquiao beat Oscar de la Hoya and launched his own pay-per-view takeover.
But Pacquiao saw things differently. “I wanted to fight him because I know I can easily beat him,” he told ‘Inside The Ring’ on DAZN.
At that point, Pacquiao had fought 71 times. He’d done it all. Titles, wars, all of it. But he was quick to say he wouldn’t be the ageing de la Hoya in this story.
If he had beaten Spence, it would have been thanks to his speed. “It’s not about strength or how strong the punch is. It’s about skills and abilities in the ring and how you move. That’s boxing. That’s the secret to being an eight-division champion,” Pacquiao explained.
In reality, Pacquiao ended up fighting Yordenis Ugas instead, and it didn’t go well. He lost badly. Fans saw him days later, face swollen shut, being spoon-fed by his wife, Jinkee. After almost four years out, he came back in 2025 and nearly beat Mario Barrios, settling for a controversial majority draw.
Spence, on the other hand, bounced back to beat Ugas with a 10th-round stoppage but got knocked out by Terence Crawford in the ninth round in 2023. He hasn’t fought since, but he keeps getting linked to a summer fight with Tim Tszyu.
Last we heard, Spence was still undecided. He says he’ll only return if the right fight comes along.
