Ryan Garcia is seeking a quick turnaround following a relatively non-strenuous clash with Conor Benn, and Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz has responded to a recent call-out from the Californian. 

Garcia needed just two rounds to dispatch of Benn at the weekend as he made a first defence of his WBC welterweight title, dropping the Brit with a devastating right-hand and then stopping him on unsteady legs.

Since then, it has become clear that a unification clash with WBA titleholder Teofimo Lopez is on Garcia’s radar, but ‘King Ry’ has also called for a scrap against Mexico’s former WBA super-lightweight champion Cruz, who currently holds the WBC Interim title at 140lbs.

“I kind of want to get in the ring either December or January. That’s kind of where I’m looking at. There’s a lot of people out there. You’ve got Pitbull Cruz, I wouldn’t mind rumbling with him… I won’t call it a tune up but I don’t want to get caught off guard.

“I don’t want to wait until May to fight. Why do I have to wait until May? I have no bruises, I have no hits to the head, why can’t I fight? So I’ll give the fans a little treat.”

In response, ‘Pitbull’, who defends his interim title against Puerto Rico’s Nestor Bravo on Saturday, refused to rule out a move up to welterweight to take on Garcia but maintained that Bravo has his full focus at present, in an interview with Fight Hub TV.

“Right now, I am focussed on my fight on September 19 and coming out victorious from this fight we have coming up.

“Then, we will think about what is next for Pitbull Cruz. Whether it is good, whether it is bad, we take everything with a positive mindset, whatever comes next and if there is a possible fight with Ryan, as well.” 

Cruz-Bravo takes place at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego this Saturday.