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It all started innocently and pointlessly enough, with 21-year-old boxing prospect Ryan Garcia — who is incredibly good at social media — asking on Twitter if “you” think UFC champion Henry Cejudo “would give (him) a good fight in the boxing ring?”
You think @HenryCejudo would give me a good fight in the boxing ring?
— Ryan Garcia (@KingRyanG) May 11, 2020
Garcia asked on May 11, two days after Cejudo defeated Dominick Cruz at UFC 249 in Jacksonville. Cejudo then became even more of a trending topic, as he immediately announced that he was retiring, but pulled that back at the post-fight press conference by admitting he’d fight again for the right money.
The 33-year-old Cejudo (16-2 in MMA) is the current UFC bantamweight champion, which is the 135-pound division there, same as boxing’s lightweight division, where Garcia (20-0, 17 KO) competes.
And it wasn’t just a question for the sake of posing the question; Garcia tagged him and everything, so he wanted the attention. And he got it:
Get the hell out of here you Oscar De La Hoya wannabe. I’d make you bend the knee in your own sport! @danawhite Allow me to fry this fish! https://t.co/11B9GaMe2S
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) May 12, 2020
Garcia came back quickly to pretend the question itself, which he had posed, had been absurd:
Don’t end up like Connor now! https://t.co/6iQSvwm2tO
— Ryan Garcia (@KingRyanG) May 12, 2020
My guy Henry C is 5’4 you enter the ring with me you’ll end up retiring for good, just enjoy your championships in MMA
— Ryan Garcia (@KingRyanG) May 12, 2020
Cejudo’s no dummy, either, he knows the attention is good, so he bounced back himself:
I’d crack you so hard I’d make you forget your purse https://t.co/JsvWBRzyxO
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) May 12, 2020
But in the meantime, a new name entered the Twitter fight, as 34-year-old three-division boxing titlist Abner Mares threw out an opinion. He didn’t tag anyone, but obviously it is what it is:
Funny how fighters are calling out ufc legends when they still haven’t done shit in there own sport. ♂️ just saying
— ABNER MARES (@abnermares) May 12, 2020
Garcia then pulled another classic social media move, the “I just find it funny that—” bit. To be fair, Mares stuck his own beak in here, Garcia wasn’t talking about him.
I find it real funny, Old ass Abner Mares is talking shit, if you want to get knocked out again in the first round then be my guest, that goes for you to linares
— Ryan Garcia (@KingRyanG) May 12, 2020
And then Mares had responses:
my old ass is just getting up what did I missed? And you ain’t knocking no one out and specially the first round..wake me up when you fight some one decent, going back to sleep need my 10 hours doc recommended for us older men. Oh yeah good morning
— ABNER MARES (@abnermares) May 12, 2020
And this ain’t even no clout chasing because I ain’t even @ homeboy these are just Facts, is he good fighter? yes.. is he the future? Well looks so by the way they taking his career , Has he done shit in boxing? hell No!other then making the double end bag look easy.
— ABNER MARES (@abnermares) May 12, 2020
And then Garcia pretty formally called out a guy who probably has topped out two divisions below Ryan’s weight, and hasn’t fought in two years:
Ryan Garcia Vs Abner Mares
— Ryan Garcia (@KingRyanG) May 13, 2020
All this shit you are talking outside the ring, you better bring the same kind of energy when you are getting your whole face disfigured #signit
And if you’re wondering, since Garcia brought up Jorge Linares, yes, Jorge got one in, too:
I'm not talking much but I'm waiting for the contract to fight with you spoiled child... Garcia
— LINARES (@JorgeLinares) May 12, 2020
To Garcia’s credit, this was pretty funny:
Get in line whoever you are https://t.co/nynf858QAH
— Ryan Garcia (@KingRyanG) May 12, 2020
And there is your update on a bunch of stuff from Twitter. Thank you for your time.