Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia faced off yesterday for their first press conference ahead of the April 20th showdown in New York. The amateur turned pro rivals didn’t waste time on building up a heated contest.
As amateurs, Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia faced each other 6 times both sharing 3 wins each.
The former undisputed lightweight king Haney (31-0, 15 KO) will defend his WBC super lightweight title against Garcia (24-1, 20 KO).
Haney will be the big favourite going into the fight with some having Haney as pound for pound best. While beating big names like Vasily Lomachenko and Regis Prograis after moving up weight. Garcia has lost his one “big” fight some argue, against Gervonti “Tank” Davis. He did make a impressive comeback win against Oscar Duarte Jurado.
Haney and Garcia Go back and Forth at the Press Conference
“He knows he don’t have the skills, he don’t have the IQ, he don’t have the heart,” Haney said. “We’ve seen him quit. We’ve seen you take a knee, and it won’t be no different. When it gets hot, you quit.”
“He’s gonna get his a** whooped,” Garcia offered. “I’m not even gonna make him quit, I’m just gonna knock him the f**k out.”
Haney Says Garcia “Might Pull Out Again”
“I think that it makes sense. I’ve been wanting to fight Ryan for a long time. We can say he’s ‘eager’ to fight me, but we don’t know. If he goes on another jog with Floyd, he might pull out again, so we don’t know. We gotta see,” said Haney.
Haney added about the Garcia’s comments: “I heard some things that Ryan said about my religion, which me and Ryan talked about it before, and he said he didn’t say it. So I’m not gonna hold him to that. But it’s personal now. It’s bigger than boxing. We’ve been rivals since we were nine, 10 years old, so it’s time to seal the deal.
“If he gets reckless, he will get caught like we’ve seen him get caught before. Derrick [James] knows he don’t got no f****n’ discipline.”
Garcia on Why He Chose Now to Fight Haney
“I felt like he was picking up steam, he finally became, like, more of a draw and big potential for a great fight and a great event. Obviously, every time he fights it’s mid, it’s like, whatever, but he did a little better [against Prograis], so I was, like, ‘Alright, let’s do it, let’s run it.’ This is just the perfect timing. It’s for the WBC belt, it’s at a healthy weight [at] 140, everything’s on the line. I think this is the right moment.”
Garcia Says He Will Retire if Haney Stops Him in One Round
“I’ll give you my word. I want to just mess around and knock him out with the right hand. I just want to do that. How funny would it be if I knocked him out with the right hand after he [called me a one-trick pony]? That shit would be hilarious.”
“I’m going to beat the sh** out of him”
“It’s just a good opportunity for me. When I first came into the game, I just wanted to make a bunch of money and then I did that, but now I want to go for the legacy. I want to go for the belts. I’m on my vengeance arc. I’m ready to get back in, blood and everything, so I’m coming straight for his neck, I promise you that. I promise, I’m coming straight for you. It’s going to be ugly,” said Garcia.
He added: “Everyone thinks I’m hating on NYC, I’m not. I love NYC. Anyways, I’m going to beat the sh** out of him, I’m out.”
Garcia: “I think Mayweather is a little mad at me”
“We’re cool, but I think Floyd Mayweather is a little mad at me for saying some things. Like I’ve seen the video of Devin Haney getting his a** knocked out by Gervonta Davis [in sparring], I’ve personally seen the video. I think Floyd got mad that I said that. Haney is knocked out almost cold. You got your a** rocked and you know it. Yes [Floyd showed me].”
Garcia and Haney laugh as Dads clash at Press Conference
One moment in the press conference that stopped Haney and Garcia arguing was when they both had a laugh at their Dads clashing. It all started when Haney Sr praised his sons skills in his usual fashion when Garcia Sr interrupted: “Bill, calm down, you’re sounding like Don King now.”
Haney Sr replied: “Now wait a minute, we finally get a chance to hear from the guy who ran amateur boxing. “Henry Garcia was the judge, the referee, the parking attendant – he did everything for USA Boxing.
“Am I right or wrong Henry? Were you the judge and the referee in amateur boxing.”
The reason Haney Sr brought this up is because the two fighters faced each other six times in the amateurs, with three wins apiece and various arguments over who truly deserved to win each of those bouts.
Garcia Sr answered: “Bill, the bottom line is they both met in the ring like they’re going to now.”
But Haney Sr fired back: “No, I’m talking about amateur boxing, I was p***ed off. You don’t control this one.”
Garcia Sr responded: “Who cares? Who cares? Did Ryan give Devin his first eight count? Just tell me that. He sure did. So come on Don King, let’s go.”
At this point Garcia himself interjected on behalf of his father and said: “Let me explain this though, the reason why my mum became a judge was because we didn’t have no money.
“They would give you free hotels if you were a judge, that’s it.”
Haney Sr dismissed this answer and shook his head, to which Garcia Sr loudly shouted back: “F*** you.”
This forced the two fighters to momentarily pause their rivalry as they looked across at each other and laughed.
My view
It feels like boxing is delivering again with the “big name fights” I cannot wait for this one, I can’t see past Devin Haney against anyone but I think Garcia will bring out the best in Haney and it will be a thrilling, fast, electric fight.
