WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia have reached an agreement to face each other on April 20th in what is anticipated to be a significant boxing match on DAZN PPV. This is primarily due to the massive following of 11 million Instagram followers that Garcia possesses.
Financial Impact
The news of the deal between Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) and Garcia was revealed by Mike Coppinger. However, the specific venue and PPV price have yet to be announced. Given the expected attention the fight will generate, it is likely that the price will be around $75 or potentially higher.
It is crucial that the Haney vs. Garcia fight is reasonably priced to avoid negative consequences for future PPV events. If fans feel dissatisfied and deceived by an uncompetitive fight, they may choose to abstain from future events, leading to financial losses.
Haney’s previous fight against Regis Prograis reportedly had disappointing PPV buys of only 50K on DAZN. This clearly indicates that Haney lacks the popularity and fighting style to attract paying viewers.
However, by facing Ryan Garcia, who boasts 11 million social media followers, Haney can benefit from Garcia’s popularity. This strategy has previously been successful for Gervonta Davis. While Haney may struggle to attract fans on his own, he can capitalize on Ryan’s celebrity-like status and Instagram following.
Perceived Imbalance
Although 25-year-old Ryan Garcia will earn a significant payday from this fight, he may not be technically prepared to face the more skilled and experienced Haney.
This fight could potentially be as one-sided as Garcia’s previous loss to Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, where he was knocked out in the seventh round.
What makes this upcoming match interesting is the timing. It has been exactly a year since Garcia’s last defeat, a fight in which he had no chance of winning. Now, he is stepping into the ring with Haney, who is far superior in terms of talent. It is highly likely that Garcia will be outclassed on April 20th.
Other Options for Haney
Instead of opting for easier fights against Ryan Garcia, Haney should prove himself against more formidable opponents at 140 pounds. Fighters like Subriel Matias, Arnold Barboza, Sandor Martin, Gary Antuanne Russell, or Jamaine Ortiz would provide a true test of Haney’s skills.
If Haney continues to struggle with the weight cut to compete at 140 pounds, he should consider facing opponents who will demonstrate that he is not merely cherry-picking his opponents, as some knowledgeable fans believe.
According to the Source boxingnews24.com