{"id":780424,"date":"2026-09-23T22:56:12","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T22:56:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/780424\/"},"modified":"2026-09-23T22:56:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T22:56:12","slug":"roy-jones-jr-says-world-champion-ko-artist-is-the-new-canelo-everyone-wants-to-see-him-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/780424\/","title":{"rendered":"Roy Jones Jr says world champion KO artist is ‘the new Canelo’: “Everyone wants to see him fight”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Roy Jones Jr<\/a> has named one fighter as the \u201cnew Canelo\u201d and, by extension, considers them to be the \u2018face of boxing\u2019.<\/p>\n

Some might argue that Canelo Alvarez remains boxing\u2019s biggest commercial star but, with the 36-year-old approaching retirement, the sport is surely crying out for another mainstream attraction to take his place.<\/p>\n

It is also unusual for the four-division world champion that, by the end of this year, he will not have fought on Cinco de Mayo or Mexican Independence Day weekend.<\/p>\n

Instead, occupying the latter date earlier this month was Ryan Garcia<\/a>, who retained his WBC world title with a second-round stoppage of Conor Benn,<\/a> taking his record to 21 knockouts from 26 victories, with just two defeats.<\/p>\n

In doing so, the 28-year-old has kept himself in the mix for unification matches with Teofimo Lopez<\/a> and Devin Haney<\/a> but, until such fights materialise, he seems eager to remain active and defend his welterweight belt.<\/p>\n

As far as a next opponent goes, Isaac \u2018Pitbull\u2019 Cruz has been mentioned as a possible option following his emphatic sixth-round knockout of Nestor Bravo last weekend<\/a>, and it seems that pound-for-pound legend Jones would enjoy that clash.<\/p>\n

That is because Jones has told All The Smoke Boxing<\/a> that Garcia-Cruz is a stylistically similar matchup to Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier.<\/p>\n

\u201cRyan is the new Canelo \u2013 everybody wants to see Ryan.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Cruz] has the style \u2013 the perfect style \u2013 that you want to see against Ryan. Ryan\u2019s a classic boxer-puncher; Pitbull is a brawler-puncher. That\u2019s Ali and Frazier, almost.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho would not, on planet Earth, want to see that fight?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRyan is the new Canelo!\u201d<\/p>\n

Roy makes the case for Pitbull Cruz vs Ryan Garcia being one of the most exciting fights to make in boxing \ud83c\udf9f\ufe0f\ud83d\udc4a pic.twitter.com\/PWVwO68sTj<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 ALL THE SMOKE Boxing (@atsboxing) September 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

While Cruz is, indeed, a tenacious brawler-puncher, the 5ft 4in super-lightweight would be contending with a glaring size disadvantage if he moves up to 147lbs and faces Garcia.<\/p>\n