On Inside The Ring on Monday, the WBO welterweight champion put together a dream card and listed the rematch and unification bout against WBC titleholder Ryan Garcia as his “dream fight.” They first fought in April 2024, and Garcia won by majority decision, but the result was overturned to a no-contest after he failed multiple drug tests for the performance-enhancing drug Ostarine.  

“I need that get back,” Haney said. “It was a tough experience for me, but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I feel like it brought the best out of me [and] made me a better fighter. I was able to learn a lesson, and it not count on my record. I learned so much in that fight about myself.”

Haney, a three-division world champion and The Ring’s No. 8 fighter pound-for-pound, also listed Naoya Inoue vs. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez and Canelo Alvarez vs. Hamzah Sheeraz as the other fights on his dream card. 

A potential rematch between Haney and Garcia has only been made bigger with their most recent victories. Haney (33-0, 15 KOs) won the WBO title with a dominant unanimous decision over previously undefeated Brian Norman on Nov. 22. Haney, 27, is The Ring’s No. 1 welterweight.  

Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs) won his first world title with a one-sided unanimous decision victory over Mario Barrios. Garcia, 27, is No. 4 on The Ring’s welterweight rankings.

Haney and former two-division champion Teofimo Lopez praised Garcia’s ability in the ring and said he should be mentioned in the same conversation as them. Lopez (22-2, 13 KOs) added that Garcia’s popularity is a plus for boxing and adds to the opportunity for whoever faces him. 

“I think in this time of modern day era, boxing right now, it's leaning towards that popularity,” Lopez said. “[It’s] leaning towards that engagement with fans. You see him on streams now, and everything of that nature. He's helping the sport evolve to a different point, and whoever faces him is going to gain that access.”

However, for Haney, popularity is the last thing on his mind. 

“I want to fight the best fighters in the world and beat the best fighters in the world,” he said. “I want my name to live on, not because I was popular, [but] because I was great. 

“I’m a great fighter.”