Trainer Robert Garcia fielded a few questions about some recent topics in the boxing world, including what he makes of Keyshawn Davis turning down a title shot against Devin Haney, and what the upcoming plans for Bam Rodriguez are considering there had been rumblings of a potential fight with Naoya Inoue. Here’s some of what he had to say below.
Garcia on Keyshawn opting out of Haney fight
“I think he never really wanted the fight,” Garcia said. “I think he started calling him out and ‘I want the fight, make it happen’ and this and that, to put his name up there with Haney, with Shakur. Those are big names in boxing and he’s up there too, but not in that level. So, he wanted his name up there. And when it came true he’s like ‘oh, sh-t’.
“$3M is a lot of money for any fighter right now in boxing, a lot of money. Unless you’re dealing with Turki, you’re a big name…Keyshawn’s not there yet. He’s not that guy yet. So, to get there you got to take this ‘smaller’ portion of the pie to get there.
“Maybe he never really wanted it. Maybe he knows he’s not ready for it. Maybe he doesn’t feel that he’s ready for it, that’s why he’d rather step away. Stepping away from that kind of money shows the world he never really wanted that fight.”
On what’s the plan for Bam Rodriguez next
“I haven’t got a date…[Eddie Hearn] hasn’t heard anything and I have heard anything from Inoue’s people. Inoue has said March is the latest, he’ll wait ‘til March — well, at least reach out to us and tell us, make us an offer. But Eddie told me that he hasn’t had an offer, I haven’t had an offer either.
“So, we’re moving on. November, early December is going to be Bam’s next fight. Will definitely have to be a unification. There’s two Mexican champions that are the IBF and the WBO and then Inoue’s brother. So, that would also be a big fight.
“So if Inoue’s saying he doesn’t want to wait longer than March, then we take care of this fight and we’ll be ready for March…But at least let us know what’s going on. Do you guys really want to fight Bam? Let’s negotiate, let’s get to business. But we’re going to take this fight before that.”