One of the biggest fights of the year takes place between two men who know each other very well. Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia are reportedly tied at 3-3 following six amateur contests and face off in a “game seven” fight as professionals on April 20.
Haney’s WBC super lightweight title will be on the line in a DAZN PPV broadcast.
The fight has been years in the making. Haney was the undisputed lightweight champ before moving up in weight and winning the WBC 140-pound title at the expense of Regis Prograis.
Meanwhile, Garcia suffered a knockout loss to Gervonta Davis last April but bounced back with a stoppage win over Oscar Duarte in December.
Regarding a venue for the showdown, there were many options. Haney has fought predominantly in Las Vegas and San Francisco, while Garcia has competed in Los Angeles, Vegas, and Texas.
WATCH: Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia, live on DAZN
However, boxing has a special history in New York, and the Barclays Center in Brooklyn will be the swanky locale for this superfight:
Why is Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia in New York?
Initially, it was rumored that the Haney vs. Garcia fight would take place in California or Las Vegas. However, Golden Boy’s Oscar De La Hoya suddenly announced that New York had won the rights to host.
Matchroom Boxing is representing Devin Haney for the forthcoming fight. Promoter Eddie Hearn credits Devin’s father/ trainer Bill Haney for making the fight happen and bringing it to Brooklyn.
“Bill was the one really that went out there and got the deal done with Oscar. He kept us in the loop throughout, we gave advice where necessary, but Oscar’s the lead promoter for the fight,” Hearn said to Fight Hype via Bad Left Hook. “[He] did the fight with Bill, with us, but really Bill did a great job in that fight.
MORE: Cheapest seats to watch Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia
“I think that’s a brilliant move, taking it to Brooklyn, to the Barclays Center. We saw so many PBC fights there, some of which worked, some of which didn’t. But it’s a fantastic arena, and New York is a huge catchment area for boxing.”
It has been a long time since New York hosted a fight of this magnitude, and fans are looking forward to it.
Both fighters have only competed once in The Big Apple during their respective careers. Haney beat Zaur Abdullaev in 2019 in Madison Square Garden's Hulu Theater for the interim WBC lightweight title. Garcia knocked out Braulio Rodriguez at MSG in 2018.
Garcia attempted to get the fight moved out of New York, telling Ariel Helwani that taxes were his main incentive for doing so. He has since accepted the move.
