Lightweight standout Renato Moicano is all about flexibility. ‘Money’ Moicano stepped onto the grappling mat against Submission Hunter Pro champ Cristian Guzman. After his winning stint at UFC Fight Pass Invitational 17 ( #FP17), he reverted his focus to pro-boxing and Ryan Garcia.
Renato Moicano is never at a loss for colorful vocabulary. He has already proved his dominance to cut a promo behind a mic. He even once hijacked MMA journo John Morgan‘s commentating stint at the regional Cage Fury Fighting Championship to make a callout. Moments after winning, he delivered yet another one of his fiery post-fight interviews.
I love this sh*t but I was missing throwing some fu*king elbows in a motherfu*ker today…No disrespect for Christian [Guzman], I am a UFC fighter, …top 10 lightweight and today I was doing grappling… We’re MMA fighters, we can do it all. So that’s why next time, I want to fight boxing…That little dirthead Ryan Garcia, motherfu*king steroid abuser, my brother. If I go to boxing, I’m going to fu*k you up…
Renato Moicano at the UFC Fight Pass Invitational 17 post-fight interview
Having flourished back in his grappling roots, Renato Moicano now thinks it proper to test out his striking game. Ryan Garcia, ESPN‘s sixth-best active junior welterweight, recently made a mark against super lightweight champ Devin Haney. Currently, he is now also a top #3 welterweight, as per BoxRec.
Of course, Garcia has been in and out of the news in recent weeks. After outpointing Haney, he caught some heat for alleged doping violation claims. He has gone scott-free on half-parter; after a false positive for 19-Norandrosterone, he now tests again on May 22. However, it shouldn’t hamper crossover aspirations for now. He has already had a prolific build-up with Sean O’Malley for a future crossover bout.
All roads lead to Ryan Garcia
After his domination over a super lightweight champion, Ryan Garcia is one of the faces of pro-boxing, one way or the other. Garcia (25-1, 20 KO) had come 3.2lbs over his 140-pound scrap stipulations. Nevertheless, he emerged victorious and now has the attention of the world.
Renato Moicano is now one part of the vicious boxing triangle involving Ryan Garcia (Source: IMAGO/ agfight.com/ Instagram)Consequently, now he is the fight to make, even for Renato Moicano. The lightweight star also called him out in his post-fight interview after one of his recent grappling matches. Even though Moicano seems interested, it will not happen. The UFC will only promote a champion for any crossover bout. They will not think about a contender crossing over for a boxing bout. As such O’Malley will likely fight Garcia more than anyone else.
‘Suga’ is keen as well. MMAFighting for SBN’s editor & top journo Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) postulates he needs to be quite an “unicorn” like Conor McGregor was. A few more title defenses will give O’Malley that status which McGregor held. It appears that Garcia remains the prime candidate representing boxing in any future crossover bout.
