This Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, WBC super lightweight world champion Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) will defend his title against Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs). The fight will be broadcast and streamed live on DAZN PPV. The two fighters have a lot of history, as they matched up six times as amateurs, with each winning three of the bouts before starting their respective professional careers.
“I’m feeling good. I’m on track to make weight,” said the 25-year-old Garcia last week after his media workout. Garcia lost his first professional fight a year ago to Gervonta Davis and blamed the loss on the rehydration clause that prevented him from adding significant weight after the weigh-in.
“I was at around 146 yesterday and we’re continuing to train hard like we always do,” he said, “I know I am training hard. I am feeling great, looking good in the gym.”
Garcia exuded confidence ahead of the match but could be playing a psychological game with Haney, which will have little effect once the bell rings for Round 1 to begin.
“It’s going to be light work for me,” he declared. “I am going to cook Devin Haney. Just another day in the office. Devin is not on my level and he will never be on my level.”
Haney, like Garcia is 25 and taking a business as usual approach to the impending clash.
“Camp has been amazing,” Haney said earlier this month. “I’m in the zone, always. I’m obviously getting more adjusted to this new weight class.”Haney, who defeated Regis Prograis in his first fight at super lightweight in December, maintained he is getting stronger and in the best physical shape of his career.
“Not having to go down the extra five pounds has been a tremendous help for me,” he said. “I had been at 135 for a long time. At 140, it just feels so different. My performance against Regis Prograis showed that.”
He also addressed the numerous comments about him by Garcia posted on social media and other platforms.
“At the end of the day, Ryan Garcia is going to say what he is going to say,” Haney said. “No matter what, I am going to do my job to be the very best Devin Haney I can be. Whichever version of Ryan shows up on April 20, I will be ready for him. Ryan Garcia is just another opponent to me. I am in competition with greatness. That is why I train so hard, that is why I stay so disciplined.”
This past Saturday, undefeated heavyweight Jared Anderson (17-0, 15 KOs) defeated Ryad Merhy in Corpus Christi, Texas, by a 100-90, 99-91, 100-90 unanimous decision.
“I stayed sharp for 10 rounds, that’s the biggest takeaway,” Anderson said after his win. “I made some mistakes. I got hit with a few punches. I shouldn’t have gotten hit at all because he didn’t even come here to fight.”