“I really want to fight Shakur,” Garcia said to Ring Magazine. “I want to go from Barrios to Shakur … 144. I’ll make a whole division called 44. Me and Shakur.”
Stevenson did not hesitate. He accepted the idea in principle but attached a condition that speaks directly to Garcia’s recent history.
“144 Ryan, let’s do it… I’ll be at your fight now scrub! VADA will be involved so don’t run from that,” Stevenson wrote on X.
The reference is deliberate. Garcia’s April win over Devin Haney was overturned to a no contest after a positive test for a banned substance. Since then, any high-level negotiation involving Garcia carries additional attention around testing protocols.
By bringing up VADA publicly, Stevenson moved the discussion away from catchweights and into compliance before promoters have even exchanged term sheets. Drug testing is typically resolved behind closed doors. Stevenson placed it front and center.
There is also a stylistic layer beneath the headlines. Garcia fights in bursts, relying on hand speed and left hooks to break exchanges open. Stevenson works behind the jab, controls range, and wins rounds through clean punching and ring generalship. A 144-pound meeting would likely hinge on who establishes pace early. Stevenson would aim to dictate distance. Garcia would try to force exchanges before rhythm sets in.
Garcia still has business ahead of him with Barrios, and that outcome will shape the urgency of any future matchup. A win strengthens his leverage in negotiations. A loss shifts the conversation.
Stevenson’s position at 140 remains stable. He recently secured a world title and has mentioned names across weight classes, including Isaac Cruz and Conor Benn. By raising VADA immediately, he ensures that testing becomes part of the framework rather than an afterthought.
Fighters call each other out every week. Few define the conditions this quickly. Stevenson has done exactly that, showing he intends to dictate the environment as firmly as he intends to dictate range if the fight ever materializes.
Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, recognized for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fight landscape. His reporting focuses on major bouts, divisional developments, and the sport’s most discussed storylines.