Ryan Garcia vs. Isaac 'Pitbull' Cruz is still in talks, with 144 pounds a potential catchweight for their welterweight clash in May in Times Square in Manhattan, New York. It's a doubleheader event with Turk Al-Sheikh, Devin Haney taking on former WBC and WBO light welterweight champion Jose Ramirez in a risky affair.

Garcia-Cruz at 144

Fighting at welterweight isn't ideal for the short 5'4″ Cruz (26-3-1, 18 KOs) because he's small, even when he's fighting at lightweight. It will be interesting to see if the Pitbull has more power in the 144. If he's more dangerous at that weight than at 140, Kingery (24-1, 20 KOs) could be in for a tough fight.

It would be a nightmare for the Turk for Garcia and Hani to lose their tune-up bout on the same night, sending them into an October rematch on the back of a humiliating defeat. Ryan has a lot of pride and can resist fighting Haney at least without trying to avenge his loss to Cruz by fighting him in October. It will be up to the Turk if he still wants to fight with Garcia and Hani defeated.

Haney's opponent, 2012 US Olympian Jose Ramirez (29-2, 18 KOs), may have too much talent for him. This is a guy who had trouble beating Devin even before Ryan whipped him last April, but after that beating, he's going to be vulnerable against a puncher like Ramirez.

Hany faces Ramirez

When Haney agreed to fight Ramirez, he may have thought he had another Regis Progress who he could outbox with his jabbing and holding. However, Ramirez is a much better fighter than Prograis, and the tactics Haney used against Regis — constant clinching, jabbing and movement — won't work as well against the experienced Ramirez. He has often dealt with these types of fighters in his amateur and professional career.

Update: The discussion continues #GarciaCruz… No economic deal yet and a catchweight at 144 pounds is possible.

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