Garcia: ‘I wanna go for the belts and Devin’s in the way’

Both Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOa) and Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) have proven one thing: they are not afraid to take the tough fights, and it only makes sense that these two finally fight each other, which will happen on April 20 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn for Haney’s WBC 140-pound title.

At 25 years old, both Haney and Garcia have been in with some of the best fighters in the world. Haney has beaten guys like Vasyl Lomachenko, George Kambosos(2x), and Regis Prograis, while Garcia dared to be great when he battled and lost to Gervonta Davis. 

In the amateurs, Haney and Garcia met six times, and Haney won three, and Garcia won three; on Tuesday, at a press conference in New York City, which was the first stop on their multi-city press tour, Garcia’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, says things will be settled on April 20.

“If you guys didn’t know, they fought six times already in the amateur, and they’re three and three, so this one does count,” De La Hoya said. “This fight here is like they say – for all the marbles – this fight here is to see who the best fighter at 140-pound division.”

According to Garcia, he’s made the money, and now it’s about his legacy.

“When I first came into the game, I just wanted to make a bunch of money, and then I did that,” Garcia said. But now I want to go for the legacy; I wanna go for the belts and Devin’s in the way. I’m on my vengeance arc. I’m ready to get back in blood in everything, so I’m coming straight for his neck. I promise you, I’m coming straight for you; it’s going to be ugly.”

Devin Haney’s father/trainer, Bill Haney, says this fight will end early.

“There’s going to be men that will be happy,” the elder Haney said. “And there’s going to be girls that’s going to be crying. By Round 5, down goes Ryan.”

Devin Haney says he’s getting the win: “DAZN, they put the bounty up. On April 20th, I’m capturing the bounty, and we coming home with the victory.”

There should be fireworks on April 20, and this fight has all the makings of being classic.

Photo/Courtesy: Golden Boy/Cris Esqueda