Ryan Garcia offered chance to become a two-weight world champion

On February 21, in Las Vegas, Ryan Garcia defeated Mario Barrios to become the WBC welterweight world champion. At super welterweight, British fighter Josh Kelly recently defeated the feared Bakhram Murtazaliev. 

After Garcia’s win, Kelly has teased an offer to Garcia for the American to step up to 154 pounds and challenge him for his IBF title.

Garcia and Kelly become world champions

Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs) started fast against Barrios, scoring a knockdown in the first round, and “King Ry” proved to be too fast and too accurate for Barrios, as he won via a unanimous decision, with scorecards of 119-108, 120-107, and 118-109.

Many questioned what Garcia would show up on fight night, and he answered those questions in the first round. Following his win, the opportunities for big fights have multiplied.

Kelly (18-1-1, 9 KOs) has always had the talent to reach the top, and since moving to 154 pounds, he has looked like a different fighter. Many felt he wouldn’t be able to keep Murtazaliev off him for 12 rounds, but despite a knockdown in round nine, Kelly scored his own knockdown and boxed diligently throughout, moving and picking his punches impressively. The Brit ultimately won via a majority decision, with judges’ scorecards of 115-111, 114-113, and 113-113.

Ryan Garcia teased opportunity to become a two-weight world champion

Ryan Garcia and Josh Kelly both have plenty of challengers and possible unification opportunities, but Kelly appears to value the interest in a showdown with Garcia at 154 pounds. The Sunderland fighter posted via his X account: “Watched the Ryan Garcia fight thought it was a great performance, want a chance at becoming two weight world champion I’ll be waiting battle of the pretty boys baby.”

Kelly vs Garcia would be an intriguing chess match, with both possessing plenty of speed. It would be fascinating to see if Garcia could carry his power up to 154 pounds. Kelly has proven he has the snap in his punches to stop aggressive fighters from marauding forward.

Kelly-Garcia, who wins and how?