The boxing world is abuzz with anticipation as WBC light welterweight champion Devin Haney and social media sensation Ryan Garcia have finalized a deal to face each other in the ring on April 20th. This bout is slated to be one of the year’s most significant events, largely attributed to Garcia’s substantial social media influence, boasting over 11 million followers on Instagram.
The fight, set to air on DAZN PPV, has yet to announce its venue or pricing, though it's speculated to command a premium, potentially around the $75 mark, reflective of the high-profile nature of this matchup.
Despite the excitement, there’s concern over the PPV’s cost, with apprehensions that an overly priced event, especially if it turns out to be less competitive than expected, could deter fans from future purchases. This concern is partly rooted in Haney’s last performance against Regis Prograis, which, despite its PPV platform, only garnered around 50K buys – a figure that underscores Haney's challenge in drawing pay-per-view interest on his own.
This upcoming fight with Garcia, however, presents Haney with an opportunity to capitalize on Garcia’s celebrity status, potentially mirroring the success Gervonta Davis found in leveraging Ryan’s extensive online following. Yet, skepticism remains regarding the competitive balance of this fight. At 25, Garcia’s readiness to take on a boxer of Haney’s caliber is under scrutiny, especially considering his previous loss to Gervonta “Tank” Davis, marking this upcoming date as an exact one-year anniversary of that defeat.
Critics argue that for Haney, a path through fighters such as Subriel Matias, Arnold Barboza, Sandor Martin, Gary Antuanne Russell, or Jamaine Ortiz would present a more legitimate challenge, rather than opting for what some see as an easier fight against Garcia. This sentiment is amplified by concerns over Haney’s significant weight cuts to remain in the 140-pound division, suggesting a need for him to face opponents that would enhance his credibility rather than potentially diminish it.
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