Chris Mannix of DAZN sees Ryan Garcia as having a chance of dethroning WBC light welterweight champion Devin Haney if he can land one of his big power shots on April 20th.
The oddsmakers have Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) as the favorite, but that may not matter. As we saw in Ryan’s knockout wins over Luke Campbell, Javier Fortuna, and Oscar Duarte, all it takes is to land one shot on the button to knock out his opponents.
Haney’s punch resistance is no better than those guys. So if Ryan connects with one of his big left hook shots, he can win this fight and capture Devin’s WBC title. It would be a huge win for Ryan because very few people give him any chance.
Haney’s Surge, Garcia’s Search
“I understand why the odds heavily favor Devin Haney right now. Haney is peaking as a fighter. He’s coming off a ‘Fighter of the Year’ caliber 2023, where he beat Vasily Lomachenko, and then he completely shut out Regis Prograis in his first fight at 140,” said Chris Mannix to DAZN Boxing, discussing the Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia fight.
Haney’s wins in 2023 against Prograis and Vasily Lomachenko convinced the oddsmakers that he’s got too much talent for Ryan. Those wins alone were better than any of Ryan’s victories during his career, so he’s going to have depend on his power rather than experience to win this fight.
“Before that, he was in Australia, beating the brakes off Kambosos. Devin Haney is hitting his stride as a fighter, whereas Ryan Garcia is still trying to find himself as a fighter.
“This is just the second fight with Derrick James in his corner, and there’s still some adjusting. In that fight against Oscar Duarte, Ryan tried a whole bunch of things, including a shoulder roll defense that you and I both hope that we never actually see Ryan try again.
Garcia’s X-Factor: Speed and Power
“So, I understand why the odds are as high as they are. Let me make a case why this fight can be a winnable fight for Ryan Garcia,” said Mannix. “If you know who you’re getting in with and if you know what kind of power that fighter possesses and what kind of style that fighter brings, it’s going to make you a little more comfortable going into that fight.”
Mannox believes Ryan’s punching power and hand speed gives him a chance of winning this fight if he can find a way to land his shots consistently enough to hurt Haney. But even if Ryan lands rarely, hie’s got the power to end the fight.
“The other thing is power. Haney has never fought anyone with that quick trigger speed. Ryan’s power comes from his speed. He hits you with shots you don’t see,” said Mannix.
