Former undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia will fight on April 20th on DAZN PPV at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. This is a fight that Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) has been pushing for since 2018, and he’s got his wish going up against the more popular fighter, Ryan.
It’s an odd fight where the challenger, Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs), has a much larger fanbase despite not having accomplished as much as the two-division world champion Haney. Ryan might as well be the champion in this fight as far as the fans are concerned because he’s the one they’ll be tuning in to see.
One reason is Ryan’s social media presence, which far eclipses that of Haney, who hasn’t put in the same effort in that area. A more important thing that has held Haney back is the guys he’s beaten to capture his world titles, George Kambosos Jr. and Regis Prograis, weren’t popular and considered super talents. They were just mere belt-holders, so he held Haney back.
Haney: “Legacy is on the Line”
“Facing Ryan Garcia on April 20th is another step in my pursuit of greatness,” said Devin Haney. “My track record speaks for itself – I overcome challenges and rise to the top. I’m committed to giving the fans the best fights, and Ryan’s team is finally on board. This will be the best boxing event of the year in New York.”
Some see Haney as a weight bully because he rehydrates enormous amounts of weight. For example, in Haney’s last fight against Regis Prograis, he rehydrated to 165 after weighing in at 140 last December.
For Haney to pursue greatness in real terms, he would need to step it up against better opposition against these fighters:
Subriel Matias
Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis
Terence Crawford
Tim Tszyu
Janibek Alimkhanuly
David Morrell Jr.
Canelo Alvarez
Caleb Plant
If Haney is serious about his talk about a “pursuit of greatness,” he’ll need to fight better oppoisition than Ryan Garcia. The way Haney is going about his career, he’s doing it sneaky, superficially, using his size to defeat smaller opponents.
To be truly great, Haney must face his own size and talented opposition, not just hand-picked opposition he’s confident of beating.
Background on the Fighters
- Devin “The Dream” Haney: Undefeated, two-division champion, youngest undisputed world champion in the modern era. Known for speed, technical skill, and determination.
- “King” Ryan Garcia: PPV star with a massive fan following, known for his knockout power and exciting style.