Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney are back on each other’s radar.
Both boxers have confirmed that talks have begun for a super fight between two of the brightest young talents in the sport. Garcia (24-1, 20KOs) is keen on winning a major title in the 140-pound division and has now set his sights on the WBC title recently acquired by Haney (31-0, 15KOs) in a tour-de-force performance versus Regis Prograis earlier this month.
“I’ve advised my team to contact Team Haney to discuss and make the fight happen between Devin and I,” Garcia revealed Thursday evening on X (formerly Twitter).
A sign of promise came from the immediate response.
“These are facts,” stated Haney in acknowledgment of the early efforts already made.
Both fighters won in separate bouts one week apart on a DAZN platform.
Haney previously held the undisputed lightweight championship and became a two-division titlist with his terrific win over Prograis atop a December 9 DAZN Pay-Per-View. The event took place in front of a sold-out crowd at Chase Center, home to the NBA’s Golden State Warriors in Haney’s birth town of San Francisco, California.
Among the more interested observers was Garcia, who returned to the win column one week prior.
The 25-year-old from Victorville, California claimed an eighth-round knockout of Oscar Duarte in a bout above the junior welterweight limit as the December 2 DAZN main event from Toyota Center in Houston. Texas. Garcia hadn’t fought since an April 22 seventh-round knockout defeat to Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis (29-0, 27KOs) in Las Vegas. He also entered the ring for the first time since relocating to the greater Dallas area to train under Derrick James.
Haney, also 25, and his father/trainer Bill Haney have spent the past couple of weeks plotting their next move. Most of the talk centered around fictional deals discussed with Davis and IBF junior welterweight titlist Subriel Matias but there appears to be something real to consider as he continues to test the free agent market.
“The ball is in your court Devin,” insisted Garcia, who is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and advised by Lupe Valencia. “I’ve made my move and I’m showing you and the boxing community that I’m committed to this fight.”
By Jake Donovan