In today’s open workout, WBC light welterweight champion Devin Haney made it clear that he’s not bothered by Ryan Garcia’s behavior going into their fight on April 20th. Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) says he’s going to be ready for whatever version of Ryan (24-1, 20 KOs) shows up.
Haney looked big today and he still needs to shed a lot of weight to get down to 140 for the weigh-in on April 19th. He looked at least 170 today. Hopefully, he doesn’t drain himself too badly, getting down to 140.
In the video of Haney making weight for his last fight against Regis Prograis, they wrapped him up like a cacoon on the floor to help him drain the pounds off.
In Haney’s mind, he feels he’s more focused on competing with greatness than he is on Ryan or any fighter. Choosing Ryan as his opponent is more of a business fight for Haney because it’s one that will pay well.
Haney wants to stay at 140 long enough to become a two-division undisputed champion, but that will be hard for him to do without a little help. The IBF has a 10 lb rehydration limit, and that’s not going to work for Haney if he’s rehydrating to 165.
Feeling Stronger at 140
“I’m growing more into the weight and getting stronger. I’m ready to go,” said Devin Haney to DAZN Boxing during today’s open workouts. “140 feels so much different. I knew it was hard for me to make weight [for 135], but at the time, it was normal for me because I’d been there so long.
“Once I got to 140, I was like, I can have days off. I can eat more. It was abnormal for that. I don’t make anything of it. He’s going to say whatever he’s going to say and do whatever he’s going to do,” said Haney about Ryan Garcia.
Obviously, for Haney to be truly great and not doing superficially, he’s going to need to move up to 147 and 154 to compete against fighters his size. He’s bigger than all his opponents at 140, so that gives him a big advantage right out the game.
To be great, Haney must move up to welterweight and junior middleweight to face the likes of Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and Terence Crawford.
“On April 20th, I’m going to go in there and do my job and be the best Devin Haney I can be,” said Devin. “Whatever Ryan shows up, I’m going to be ready for. It doesn’t matter what he says. I’m at this level for a reason. No matter what anyone says, when I get in the ring, I’m going to do my job.
Unbothered by Ryan’s Behavior
“Ryan is just another opponent for me. I feel like I’m in competition with greatness,” said Haney. “That’s why I train so hard, and that’s why I work so hard. Even if my opponent isn’t focused. I don’t know if he is or he isn’t. That’s not for us to focus on. I still put my all into getting better and better.”
The way Haneys talking, he feels the win is in the bag, and there’s no way he can lose. He’s probably right. Ryan didn’t look good in his last two fights against Oscar Duarte and Gervonta Davis. He hasn’t appeared dialed in for this contest with Haney for some reason, and that’s the weird part because he should be.
“I don’t think much of it. We don’t know if it’s antics or if it’s real,” said Haney when asked about Ryan’s behavior during the build-up. I’m going to go in there and do what I do, no matter what Ryan shows up. As long as he shows up, which he will.”
