Terence Crawford returned several hours later with an even harsher response to Ryan Garcia’s challenge, claiming the 38-year-old would punish Ryan so severely that witnesses would want the law involved.

“I’ll f*** @RyanGarcia up so bad people going to be calling the law on me talking about child abuse. Like why did you do that to that little boy you knew he was just talking for the entertainment. Here I am,” Crawford posted on X.

Ryan Garcia Dares Terence Crawford To Square Up

Ryan Garcia wants to fight Terence Crawford in the street or in the ring, daring him to settle their feud with bare knuckles. Crawford started it by calling Ryan a fake who only talks tough when his bodyguards are around.

“@RyanGarcia only talk tuff for the internet. He’s know it’s all for show. I promise if I seen him without his security guards and the cameras he’ll be a complete different person. 😂 he say I’m a bully but I was the one they got for the bullies. 😉” Crawford posted on X.

“Okay so let’s square up bro on or off the ring I’m ready to handle this,” Ryan responded.

“I’m bout to go to the gym f**k it! Don’t make me too mad I’ll be 39 in 10 Days dam.😂” Crawford posted on Xreacting to the public challenge.

Crawford mentioning his age serves as a classic two-way insurance policy veteran fighters rely on when engaging younger rivals. First, it is an obvious attempt to shame Ryan in the court of public opinion. By pointing out that he is turning 39 in ten days, Crawford paints the picture of Ryan as an opportunist barking at an older retired man.

Second, it sets up an immediate built-in excuse if they ever step into the ring and things go wrong. If Crawford fights Ryan and wins, he looks like an ageless boxing master who schooled a prime champion twelve years younger than him. If he gets caught by Ryan’s left hook and loses, the narrative shifts immediately to Father Time: Crawford was 39, long past his prime, and stepped off the couch to do it.

Veteran fighters use that trick constantly to protect their pride. It allows Crawford to dismiss Ryan publicly while simultaneously laying down the foundation for an alibi if he decides the money is too big to pass up.

Crawford has now answered Ryan’s invitation with a graphic prediction rather than an offer to negotiate a boxing match. The personal hostility is obvious. The remaining question is whether either man is prepared to turn the threats into a sanctioned fight, where Crawford’s claims would finally have consequences beyond social media.

Teddy Atlas has highlighted a key advantage of David Benavidezwhich Jai Opetaia must attempt to nullify if they end up colliding next year.

The two cruiserweights have verbally agreed to lock horns in 2027, with Benavidez acknowledging the Australian as a worthy opponent for Cinco de Mayo weekend.

Before targeting their potential showdown in May, though, ‘The Mexican Monster’ is expected to face WBC champion Michal Cieslak on December 12.

Following Opetaia’s ninth-round stoppage of Noel Mikealian last weekend, the WBC cruiserweight title became vacant and Cieslak was elevated from ‘interim’ to full champion.

As a result, Benavidez is set to enter a three-belt unification match after dethroning Gilberto Ramirez for the WBO and WBA titles earlier this year.

By scoring a sixth-round finish, the Mexican-American not only became a three-division world champion but also demonstrated his speed and power at 200lbs.

Top trainer Atlas has therefore suggested on his YouTube channel that these attributes, combined with his punches in bunches, could see the 29-year-old defeat Opetaia.

“He’s got the quicker hands – I think that’s one advantage. But he’s got power, too – just like Opetaia. And he’s a warrior – just like Opetaia. They’re both undefeated; they’re both champions.

“[Benavidez is] a guy, though, that throws with speed and power and punches in clusters. And that can be a problem.

“You can time it … but that might give [Benavidez] an edge. Opetaia might have to hurt him to slow him down and win the fight [on points]. It’s hard to visualise Opetaia outworking him when it comes to volume.”

Indeed, Opetaia is unlikely to match Benavidez’ tremendous punch output but, as the naturally bigger man, he may find success in other areas of their hoped-for contest.

David Benavidez is closing on a crucial phase of his career where three fights, in particular, could see him become boxing’s next pound-for-pound king.

The 29-year-old became a three-division world champion in May, dethroning Gilberto Ramirez with a sixth-round finish for the WBO and WBA cruiserweight titles.

Since then, Benavidez has flirted with the idea of moving back down to light-heavyweight but now appears set to remain at 200lbs.

He is, after all, the mandatory challenger to Michal Cieslak, who was elevated from ‘interim’ to full WBC champion following Noel Mikealian’s ninth-round stoppage defeat to Jai Opetaia last weekend.

Benavidez is therefore likely to enter a three-belt unification match with Cieslak on December 12, before targeting a more appealing clash with Opetaia for Cinco de Mayo weekend in 2027.

With ‘The Mexican Monster’ having one fight remaining on his Premier Boxing Champions contract, too, he may embrace the opportunity to become a free agent and work with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.

Either way, father and trainer Jose Benavidez Sr has expressed his interest in the Opetaia fight, while also telling BOXING n BBQ that he would entertain showdowns with Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev.

Jose Benavidez Sr. reveals the HIT LIST he and David have in mind‼️

🥊 Jai Obedia NEXT
🥊 Artur Beterbiev
🥊 Dmitry Bivol
🥊MAYBE move up to HEAVYWEIGHT👀 pic.twitter.com/F09Rijy83I

— BOXING n BBQ (@BOXINGnBBQ) September 17, 2026

While still the unified king at 175lbs, Bivol has previously teased a move up to cruiserweight and Beterbiev, especially at this stage in his career, would surely benefit from making the same 25-pound jump.

As for Benavidez’s long-term future, though, it appears that his father is keen for a move up to heavyweight, where the former super-middleweight champion would look to follow in the footsteps of Roy Jones Jr.