Conor Benn, was there, too, fresh off his signing with Zuffa Boxing that shook up the industry. He prepared to enter the ring to call out Garcia himself.

Rolly Romero was in attendance, too, at T-Mobile Arena as Garcia dominated Mario Barrios to become the WBC’s welterweight titleholder.

It was a career-best performance for Garcia, one that started when he floored Barrios in the opening round with a looping right hand. All three fighters are viable options for the first title defense of Garcia’s career. Each bout would generate business and is intriguing for its own reasons.

Romero, of course, scored one of 2025’s biggest upsets when he floored Garcia en route to a wide-points win in Times Square.

But there's a different rematch that stands as the only choice for Garcia’s next fight, a matchup far bigger than the others. And that, of course, is a return bout with Devin Haney.

Haney wasn’t in attendance but said Sunday on social media that the rematch is the biggest fight in boxing. It might not be hyperbole from a fighter trying to hype up a potential bout.

Sure, Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua would generate more business, but outside of the heavyweight division, Garcia-Haney 2 might just be the sport’s biggest fight.

The fight presents everything you want in a marquee event. Genuine bad blood? Check. Haney and Garcia simply can’t stand each other. Controversy? Check. Garcia defeated Haney when they met in April 2024, only for the victory to later be overturned to a no-contest. That’s because Garcia tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine.

And that’s where the vitriol stems from. Haney, a longtime ardent supporter of antidoping testing, was rightfully irritated at the uneven playing field. He filed a lawsuit against Garcia. That legal action was only set to the side when plans were made for Garcia and Haney to run it back last year. But those plans were extinguished when Romero upset Garcia.

Haney, meanwhile, did his part on that undercard with a rout of Jose Ramirez. Haney and Garcia were competing for the first time since they met in the ring. And when they did, the pair delivered one of the year’s best action fights. Haney was dropped three times but mostly outboxed Garcia otherwise.

Guaranteed entertainment? Check and check. There’s no way the rematch fails to deliver. Their styles clearly mesh in a way that will bring fireworks. Haney couldn’t get out of the way of Garcia’s vaunted left hook and couldn’t absorb it either. But there’s a caveat, of course.

Besides the PED controversy, Garcia was also 3.2 pounds overweight. He paid Haney a substantial fine to allow the fight to proceed. But he also enjoyed a significant advantage on fight night when the Haney side didn’t force Garcia to do a same day weigh-in.

With a level playing field, perhaps Haney outboxes Garcia. Or maybe Garcia just has Haney’s number, with the blazing hand speed and right style to befuddle him.

Though Haney defeated Ramirez in Times Square, the fight failed to excite. But Haney rebounded with a far better performance in November, a WBO welterweight title victory where he dropped Brian Norman in Round 1.

With Haney and Garcia now champions and coming off strong wins, now is the time to deliver the clash. No sense in risking one of them losing. The fight will never be bigger than it is right now.

And the trash talk has already started. Garcia told me one week before his fight, from his training camp in Calabasas, that he would end Haney’s career if they fought again.

The fights with Shakur, Rolly and Conor? They can wait. I want to see them, too. First order of business for Garcia must be Haney.

The Japanese first-time title challenger encountered visa issues and didn’t arrive in Las Vegas until Thursday evening. Despite the 17-hour time difference from Tokyo, Hiraoka still made weight and delivered a career-best performance in a decision loss to Gary Antuanne Russell. Hiraoka was far better during the second half of the fight as he focused on Russell’s midsection with a brutal attack.

From ringside, I thought Hiraoka did enough to pull out a close decision victory. Many others agreed. The judges weren’t as kind, giving Hiraoka four rounds on two cards and three on another. Either way, Hiraoka proved he belongs on the top level and should earn another opportunity soon.

The ever-improving Duarte sat to my right at ringside during the main event. And he was frustrated. Every right to be. But he’s hopeful, too, he’ll soon land another title fight. The Mexican pressure fighter was set to challenge Richardson Hitchins for his IBF junior welterweight title. Hitchins, however, fell ill after he made weight a second time Saturday at the same-day weight check.

Hitchins has been open about his disdain for the IBF’s second weigh-in, the only organization that has such a rule. Here’s hoping Duarte lands his deserved title shot after his impressive win over Kenny Sims last summer.

Emanuel Navarrete and Sugar Nunez meet in an all-Mexican title unification in Arizona. And it should be a banger.

Navarrete is always in good fights with his dizzying pressure style that features punches from all angles. Nunez also likes to mix it up, though he’s a more disciplined boxer. He’s coming off a thrilling win over Christopher Diaz.

The winner will be well-positioned to fill The Ring’s championship vacancy at junior lightweight. The No. 1 boxer in our rankings, titleholder O’Shaquie Foster, told me on this week’s “Inside The Ring” that he’ll be ringside and. wants the winner next. Navarrete is No. 2 in the rankings, and if Nunez upends him he should take hold of that spot.