Devin Haney feels he needs to knock out Ryan Garcia tonight to receive the credit he deserves for their bout on DAZN PPV at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Mike Coppinger of ESPN says Haney told him that he plans on knocking out Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) in their fight at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Coppinger feels that Haney’s stock will drop if he doesn’t score a KO of Ryan, and that would be bad for his career because he’s failed to win over a fan base despite capturing world titles in two divisions.
Why Fans Don’t Love Haney
Greats of the past, like Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali, were able to change their styles based on their opponents, but Haney hasn’t shown the same ability to switch gears. He’s too consistent, and he seems stuck on winning his fights by outboxing his opponents. Paying fans don’t want to see boxers in main events, at least not in this generation.
“Those antics have served to overshadow the entire event, and I believe have put Haney in a tough spot now where really if he doesn’t stop Ryan Garcia, it’s going to hurt his stock,” said Mike Coppinger on X, talking about WBC light welterweight champion Devin Haney needing a knockout over Ryan Garcia, who has been acting like he’s lost his marbles throughout the entire promotion for tonight’s fight on DAZN PPV.
It would be a miracle if Haney stood and traded with Ryan and knocked him out brutally tonight. No one is expecting Haney to do that, but maybe he’s listening to the fans and will attempt it tonight.
Can Haney Pull it Off?
“Haney isn’t known for his power, but he told me that’s what he plans to do. He said, ‘Everyone knows there’s something wrong with Ryan,’ but I’m told that after talking to [WBC president] Mauricio Sulaiman that Ryan did pass a battery of tests by the New York State Athletic Commission, including a mental health evaluation. They cleared him to fight and he’s going to be there [tonight].
“It’s a fight that many people thought wouldn’t happen. My sense is Ryan Garcia is not in his normal state of mind. I’ve been dealing with Ryan for a long, long time, and this is not how he usually acts. It’s the other stuff.
“He’s talking about wild conspiracy theories, and talking about everything you could think of in pop culture, Kanye West, you name it. People think it’s a cry for help, perhaps.
“When I spoke to Mauricio Sulaiman, he thought of the 1990 rematch that we all remember between Lennox Lewis and Oliver McCall when Oliver McCall started crying in the ring and stopped fighting, and I think the WBC wanted to avoid another situation like that one,” said Coppinger.