Roy Jones Jr hails Ryan Garcia as 'the new Canelo' and backs potential Cruz clash
Roy Jones Jr told All The Smoke Boxing that Ryan Garcia is "the new Canelo" and named Isaac 'Pitbull' Cruz as the stylistic opponent fans want to see, likening the pairing to Ali–Frazier.
Roy Jones Jr. has named Ryan Garcia as "the new Canelo" and suggested a fight with Isaac 'Pitbull' Cruz would be a must-see. Speaking to All The Smoke Boxing, Jones described Garcia as boxing’s next mainstream attraction and said Cruz’s brawling style would provide the perfect contrast to Garcia’s boxer‑puncher approach. The comments follow Garcia’s second‑round stoppage of Conor Benn, a win that preserved his WBC world title and left him with 26 victories, including 21 knockouts, and two defeats.
Roy Jones Jr: 'Ryan is the new Canelo' — everyone wants to see him
Speaking to All The Smoke Boxing, Roy Jones Jr. declared Ryan Garcia "the new Canelo", saying the 28‑year‑old has become the fighter everybody wants to see. Jones argued that with Canelo Álvarez, 36, approaching the end of his career and not appearing on his usual Cinco de Mayo or Mexican Independence Day weekend slots this year, boxing needs a fresh mainstream attraction. Jones expressed particular enthusiasm for a Garcia fight with Isaac Cruz, saying Cruz’s style is the ideal foil for Garcia.
Garcia kept active with second‑round stoppage of Conor Benn
Isaac 'Pitbull' Cruz touted as the ideal stylistic test
Jones pointed to Isaac 'Pitbull' Cruz as the kind of opponent that would excite fans. Cruz, described in the report as a tenacious brawler‑puncher, scored an emphatic sixth‑round knockout of Nestor Bravo last weekend. Boxing News highlights Cruz’s size — listed as a 5 ft 4 in super‑lightweight — and says he would face a clear physical disadvantage if he moved up to 147lbs to fight Garcia.
Jones likens Garcia–Cruz to Ali–Frazier and calls it a must‑see
Jones set out the stylistic contrast that makes the bout appealing, saying: “Ryan’s a classic boxer‑puncher; Pitbull is a brawler‑puncher. That’s Ali and Frazier, almost.” He added, “Who would not, on planet Earth, want to see that fight?” The comments were made on All The Smoke Boxing and reflect Jones’s view of the bout’s commercial and sporting attraction. The report does not state that any fight agreement exists.