On Saturday night in Las Vegas, Ryan Garcia silenced his biggest critics with an outstanding performance against WBC welterweight king Mario Barrios. “King Ray” was on fire as he knocked down the champion in the first 23 seconds of the fight and easily won his first major title by unanimous decision.
This victory ended what had been a nightmare for him for the last few years. After a decision loss to Gervonta Davis in 2023, he bounced back with a win over Oscar Duarte, then scored a career-defining win over Devin Haney due to a drug suspension. After sitting out six months, he returned in May 2025 and suffered a major upset against Rollie Romero.
However, after Saturday night, Garcia is back in the driver's seat and could be preparing for some big fights for the rest of 2026. With that in mind, let's take a look at five potential opponents for the 27-year-old's next fight.
rolando romero
You can bet the loss to Romo is still weighing heavily on “King Ray.” That night last May was a low point in his career, and it made his biggest haters feel even more vindicated. If the new champion really wants to put all of his recent troubles behind him, avenging his loss against Romero would certainly be a possibility.
shakur stevenson
Following his big win, he and pound-for-pound star Shakur Stevenson had a cordial face-off backstage to test fan interest in a potential fight. Due to Stevenson's dominance at junior welterweight, moving up to seven pounds at welterweight is a possible scenario.
For Team Stevenson, Garcia would be a winnable fight and a chance to win a title in the second division. For Team Garcia, the matchup will be a big risk, but it provides an opportunity to gain P4P status.
Manny Pacquiao
Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao returned to pro boxing last year at the age of 46 and in the eyes of many observers defeated Barrios for the WBC belt. However, the entertaining encounter was ruled a draw. If Garcia wants a winnable fight with a big-name opponent, "Pac-Man" is an option. And after the way he performed against Barrios last year, he's a worthy foe even as he approaches 50.
devin haney
Many people around boxing believe that this fight will be at the top of Ryan Garcia's wish list for his next fight, which is a rematch with Devin Haney. In their first encounter, Garcia defeated his opponent three times. However, there is certainly reason to believe that his outstanding performance was medically enhanced.
Like the rematch with Romero, the second fight with Haney provides confirmation. But it's also a chance to prove he's a P4P fighter, and a chance to get another belt and aim to become unified champion at 147 pounds.
Liam Paro
Making a fight in boxing is always a tough challenge, so while fans would love to see Ryan Garcia in a matchup with Haney, Pacquiao or Stevenson, it's also possible that negotiations may fall through. This is why a fighter like Liam Paro could become the next opponent of the new WBC champion.
The Australian is one of the top five fighters in the division at 27-1 and has picked up some big wins during his career. If Garcia can't secure a matchup with a big name in his return, "The Prodigy" is a logical option.
