Ryan Garcia is plenty of issues. He’s a star, nonetheless you wish to take that, and he’s a draw. These are the large, necessary issues, and people are what make him the actual advertising A-side of subsequent Saturday’s showdown with Devin Haney.
He’s common, if polarizing, and he’s loud, and he’s frankly a little bit of an odd duck, not very similar to different skilled boxers. He’s the actual pioneer of creating social media related for a fighter’s personal promotion, which is usually a good factor as a result of boxing promoters are sometimes fairly dangerous at selling boxing.
However advertising A-side or not, on the finish of the day he has to get into the ring and beat Devin Haney. That’s going to show loads more durable than garnering consideration on Instagram and X.
Haney (31-0, 15 KO) is the actual deal. He’s not notably common on social media platforms and he’s struggled to promote tickets regardless of his success. He doesn’t blatantly lack charisma — he’s assured sufficient with a mic in entrance of him and he’s bought a private aptitude to the best way he carries himself — however he simply hasn’t caught on with the broader viewers.
That may change in time if he simply retains successful. And Saturday’s combat with Garcia (24-1, 20 KO) is his largest probability but to achieve that viewers, to impress them, and to take — not steal — the highlight from the larger star.
Haney is a former undisputed light-weight champion, totally unifying the division by dominating George Kambosos Jr in 2022. And he’s been in powerful. In 2023, he made his remaining look at 135 lbs by edging a controversial win over Vasiliy Lomachenko, a combat that to be truthful many felt he’d misplaced, then moved as much as 140 to completely dominate Regis Prograis and take the WBC title.
Picture by Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy/Getty Pictures
That belt shall be on the road Saturday. That’s what Haney is bringing to the desk, and it’s the primary world title combat for the 25-year-old Garcia, although not his largest combat. Ryan’s loss to Gervonta “Tank” Davis in 2023 was one of many largest fights of the 12 months, and this one received’t attain that occasion in publicity or mainstream notoriety.
If Haney, additionally 25, has his belt and his “0” on the road, what does Garcia have at stake?
His credibility as a world-class skilled boxer.
Hardcore followers are fast to query Garcia’s precise credentials, and with truthful motive. His finest wins are Luke Campbell, Javier Fortuna, and Oscar Duarte. And whereas 25 is younger, the truth that he hasn’t been managed into even a paper world title in a system that so usually favors politics and recognition over legitimacy is somewhat unusual.
Haney has received world titles in two divisions. Or take the case of Shakur Stevenson, who isn’t precisely the preferred fighter within the recreation, however has received world titles in three divisions at age 26.
Garcia’s precise achievements lag far behind. Within the lone combat that wasn’t towards an opponent rigorously chosen, the lasting impression is that Ryan Garcia bought dropped and stop towards Tank Davis.
To many, that was his actual take a look at, and he failed.
Haney isn’t Davis as an attraction, they usually’re very completely different within the ring. Tank is a rattling good boxer and a tough, correct puncher. Haney is a rattling good boxer however doesn’t have a status for energy. That stated, he appeared bodily sturdy towards Regis Prograis final 12 months, and there’s some thought that at 140, he’s merely in higher form than he was his final couple fights nonetheless struggling to make 135.
Garcia has expertise. The pace is a pure reward, the facility is actual. However Haney believes that Garcia merely has not developed because the two fought each other as youngsters within the novice ranks, and it’s simple as an outdoor observe to suspect he’s proper, that Garcia has stagnated in his progress and simply hasn’t actually improved the best way he might have.
Even should you imagine in his expertise, the query is now whether or not Garcia has the precise drive and keenness to ever reside as much as it. Biking by means of identify trainers the previous few years — Eddy Reynoso, Joe Goossen, Derrick James — additionally raises not less than an orange flag should you’ve seen that occur sufficient instances.
Whereas Haney is constant and centered and a real skilled in relation to his craft, Garcia is way more of a query mark and wild card. Can he really be nice when it issues, bell-to-bell between the ropes?
That’s what’s on the road for Ryan Garcia on Saturday, greater than Haney’s WBC belt. If Ryan can win, he’ll silence the doubters, not less than in the intervening time, and he completely is harmful within the matchup. Haney has been harm earlier than by smaller guys who don’t have the pop Garcia brings. If he may even admirably compete, that’ll say loads, too, as a result of Haney is a top-tier fighter.
If he loses the best way he did towards Tank, although, the clock begins loudly ticking on how lengthy Garcia is usually a dependable draw. You don’t all the time must win to get consideration, however the extra you lose, and the extra folks begin pondering you simply can’t compete at prime stage and are masking that with “simple” wins, the tougher it will get to maintain that large public engaged and prepared to pay cash to see you combat.
In some methods, it’s loads simpler to turn into a star rapidly than keep one long-term. Ryan Garcia is a star. He achieved that by means of a years-long assault on social media. Now he has to show he deserves to remain one, and that solely occurs with ends in the ring.
