SPORTS FACTS AND FIGURES 53: RYAN GARCIA SAYS HE WILL BRING IN THE FANS DURING DEVIN HANEY FIGHT
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 27 Feb 2024
Ryan Garcia says he considered himself as the A-side attraction for his fight against WBC light welterweight champion Devin Haney on April 20 in New York City. With his 11 million Instagram followers, he is believed to be the fighter who will bring in the fans and raked in the PPV sales.
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Haney (31-0, 15 KO) will be defending his WBC super lightweight title for the first time, having captured the belt from Regis Prograis in a very convincing victory on December 9 at Chase Center, San Francisco, California, USA.
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Garcia (24-1, 20 KO) will engage in his first world title fight, after beating Oscar Duarte on December 2 in Houston, Texas, a redemption from his loss to Gervonta “Tank” Davis on April 22, 2023.
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Garcia faced Oscar Duarte at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on December 2, 2023. Garcia won the fight by KO in the 8th round. Garcia was ahead on the judges' scorecards 68-65, 69-64 and 68-65 at the time of stoppage.
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"That guy was strong, and he knew what he was doing. That was a more dangerous fight than Regis Prograis. Regis is a good fighter, but he started boxing late, and you can tell,” said Ryan Garcia to Ariel Helwani’s YouTube channel, adding that his last opponent, Oscar Duarte, was better than Devin Haney’s last foe, 35-year-old Prograis.
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Haney was rated at No. 1 by The Ring at junior welterweight, and looked impressive in his fights. He became an undisputed lightweight champion by dethroning George Kambosos and defended the belt in a rematch against Kambosos.
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He had a notable victory over 3-division champion Vasiliy Lomachenko. He was last seen in action in December 2023 when he dethroned Regis Prograis via unanimous decision win to become the new WBC junior welterweight titlist.
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Haney has held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including the World Boxing Council (WBC) super lightweight title since December 9, 2023. Previously he held the undisputed championship at lightweight from June 5, 2022 to August 2023.
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Haney won the vacant WBC interim lightweight title from Englishman Luke Campbell by 7th round TKO on January 2, 2021 at American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
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Sports History: February 26, 1943. Jake LaMotta fought Sugar Ray Robinson for a third time. Robinson was knocked down for a nine-count in Round 7 but won the close fight by unanimous decision.
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Sports History: February 27, 1959. Boston Celtics point guard Bob Cousy set an NBA record with 28 assists. Boston Celtics scored 173 points against Minneapolis Lakers 139.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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