Devin Haney is targeting the pound-for-pound No.1 spot.
WBC junior welterweight world champion Haney will face Ryan Garcia on Saturday, April 20 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on DAZN pay-per-view.
Haney, 31-0 (15 KOs), is focused on cementing his legacy in the sport and while Garcia, 24-1 (20 KOs), has not achieved as much as a professional, he was an outstanding amateur who split six fights with Haney in their teenage years.
Haney is fresh off his most dominant performance at the championship level having scored a one-sided unanimous decision over Regis Prograis to win the WBC junior welterweight title.
In the build-up to Haney-Garcia, DAZN Boxing’s YouTube channel has an online documentary series titled 40 Days. The third installment, “Final Preparations & Social Media Controversy,” saw Haney discussing his motivations ahead of traveling to New York from his camp in Las Vegas.
“The process is the reward to me,” said Haney. “I have been doing this so long that it is second nature to me.”
Garcia has a more significant presence on the internet and his online antics have become a major subplot of the fight. Garcia’s active engagement with his followers on social media is making some question how serious he is – although Garcia insists that he is prepared.
“I want the world to see how great I am,” Haney said. “To see that I am levels above a guy like Ryan Garcia and that I am the best fighter in the world.”
Garcia – who a year ago fought (and was stopped by) Gervonta Davis – creates plenty of buzz, positive and negative. Though Garcia’s accolades might not equal his fame, this is a fight for Haney to gain more recognition and to build his own brand.
“Ryan is just another stepping stone,” Haney said. “If he wants me to hit him with my best, I will.”
