The eagerly awaited clash between WBC super lightweight champion Devin Haney and contender Ryan Garcia is confirmed, stirring excitement among boxing fans. Initially announced on February 9, the encounter gained immediate attention during Super Bowl festivities in Las Vegas, sparking a fiery exchange between the two fighters. Contrary to initial expectations of a Las Vegas venue, Oscar De La Hoya, the Hall of Fame boxer and promoter, disclosed that this high-stakes bout will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
A public press tour is slated to begin next week, starting at the Palladium Times Square in New York on February 27 and continuing at the Avalon in Hollywood, California on February 29. The fight, which will be streamed on DAZN, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in partnership with Matchroom Boxing and the fighters’ respective promotional companies. Ryan Garcia teased fans with the promise of a surprise for New York during the press conference, hinting at a new addition to his team.
New York, a city with a rich boxing history, has recently seen a lull in marquee matchups. The last boxing event at the Barclays Center was in October 2022 when Deontay Wilder defeated Robert Helenius. Similarly, Madison Square Garden, revered as the Mecca of boxing, did not host a significant boxing event in its main arena in 2023.
The fight between Haney and Garcia is more than a championship bout; it’s the latest chapter in a rivalry that dates back to their amateur days, where their record stands evenly at 3-3. Haney, the former undisputed lightweight champion, secured the 140-pound title with a decisive victory over Regis Prograis in December. Garcia bounced back from an April defeat to Gervonta Davis with a knockout win against Oscar Duarte in December.
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