SPORTS FACTS AND FIGURES 55: DEVIN HANEY AND RYAN GARCIA HAVE FOUGHT IN THE AMATEURS SIX TIMES
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 02 Mar 2024
Garcia (L) and Haney pose during their amateur days.
Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney have officially announced their April 20 encounter at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City. Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) will challenge Haney for his World Boxing Council junior welterweight title. There was also hesitation in the venue from Garcia, who would rather have the fight in May in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Garcia has tried to persuade the fight to be postponed to May 4 in Las Vegas instead of April 20 in New York. Since May 4 is a more traditional boxing date being a weekend near Cinco de Mayo that has become associated with the celebration of Mexican-American culture. Scheduling the fight in Las Vegas most likely would increase the gate revenues by $5 million. But Canelo Alvarez has booked that date, with a fight against either Jaime Munguía and Edgar Berlanga.
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The two American boxing stars have already fought six times in the amateurs with three wins each. Haney divulged that he received a standing eight-count courtesy of Garcia during their first bout. But he was steadfast that he gave Garcia a standing-eight in their last fight. Haney won their last bout in 2015 when they were both 16 years of age.
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But in 2014 Garcia defeated Haney at the USA Boxing Junior Olympic National Championships in West Virginia. Haney was the No. 1 ranked fighter in the 125-pound division at the start of the tournament.
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Garcia faced Gervonta Davis on April 22, in Las Vegas, Nevada, in a 136 lb catchweight fight. Davis knocked down Garcia in the second round and another in the seventh round with a body shot. Garcia was unable to rise as the referee counted him out, and Davis was declared the winner by knockout. After the fight, Garcia was criticized by some boxing luminaries for not rising in the seventh round resulting in his first loss as a professional.
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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 after landing a combination late in the round where Duarte was unable to beat the count of the referee.
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Haney, age 25, of San Francisco, California, USA, has held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including the World Boxing Council (WBC) super lightweight title. Previously he was the undisputed lightweight champion from 2022 to August 2023.
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Garcia, age 25, of Victorville, California, USA held the World Boxing Council (WBC) interim lightweight title in 2021. Haney vs. Garcia will be an interesting matchup, where the skills of Haney will be tested by the speed and power of Garcia.
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Sports History: March 2, 1962 Philadelphia center Wilt Chamberlain scores 100 points, most ever by an NBA player in a single game, in Warriors' 169-147 win over NY Knicks in Hershey. He shot 36-of-63 from the field, 28-of-32 from the free-throw line.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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