Devin Haney is coming in with huge confidence heading into his April 20 combat in opposition to Ryan Garcia, which additional backs why bookmakers favor the tremendous light-weight titleholder with -750 odds.
Garcia is a +550 betting underdog, in keeping with DraftKings.
Though the 25-year-olds have a storied novice rivalry splitting a six-fight sequence, it’s clear that Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) is extra polished and progressed as knowledgeable fighter.
The previous undisputed light-weight champion Haney has developed into one of many sport’s prime pound-for-pound stars and is trying to additional show his promise in opposition to Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs).
“I wish to win by a landslide and present that I’m ranges above him, and that is what I’ll do,” Haney stated throughout a media exercise in Los Angeles. “My every little thing will shock Ryan. Ryan does not understand how good I actually am. I’m trying to handicap him. We have been actually learning him and know a variety of the errors that he does and I stay up for exploiting these.”
Haney additionally emphasised that he’s not involved about Garcia’s erratic run of on-line antics.
“It does not matter what he does outdoors of the ring or if he is targeted or not. I nonetheless must go in there and do my job, and I’ll,” stated Haney. “There’s stress on each of us. The world might be tuning in. However I feed off of this. I used to be born for this second.
“I’m going to do my job to be the easiest Devin Haney I may be. Whichever model of Ryan exhibits up on April 20, I might be prepared for him. Ryan Garcia is simply one other opponent to me. I’m in competitors with greatness. That’s the reason I prepare so laborious. That’s the reason I keep so disciplined.”
Haney is at the moment the WBC tremendous light-weight champion and might be defending the title he gained from Regis Prograis for the primary time in simply his second combat at 140 kilos.
“Not having to go down the additional 5 kilos has been an amazing assist for me,” stated Haney. “I had been at 135 for a very long time. At 140, it simply feels so totally different. My efficiency in opposition to Prograis confirmed that.
“Camp has been wonderful. I am within the zone, all the time. I am clearly getting extra adjusted to this new weight class. I get stronger. My thoughts is evident. I am in the perfect form bodily, and I’m simply able to go.”
Haney vs. Garcia will happen on the Barclays Middle in Brooklyn, New York. The five-fight pay-per-view card might be offered on DAZN and PPV.com.
Manouk Akopyan is a sports activities journalist, author, and broadcast reporter. He’s additionally a member of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America and the MMA Journalists Affiliation. He may be reached on X (previously Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, via electronic mail at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com, or by way of www.ManoukAkopyan.com.