Ryan Garcia has urged WBC light welterweight champion Devin Haney to make the decision to fight him in their next move.
Garcia, known for his social media presence, was the A-side for the potential Haney match. Haney, the current belt holder at 140 years old, is unlikely to hold onto the title for long.
Arranging this fight may prove difficult, as Haney has gained confidence from defeating his last two opponents and believes he has reached superstar status.
Seemingly, negotiating with Mr. Haney will be a challenge. Nevertheless, Garcia believes that Haney’s championship status makes a fight with Ryan worthwhile, while Haney’s title may not secure a better contract for him.
Will promoters rebel?
It is unclear what Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) desires in the negotiations with Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) since he currently holds the challenger position.
Haney’s disappointing 50,000 PPV purchases for his Dec. 9 match with WBC 140-pound champion Regis Prograis are higher than what he would expect from a bout with Garcia. The latter, who currently boasts 10.4 million Instagram followers, finds himself in the B side position.
Making the Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney fight a reality may require a miracle, as both parties need to reach an agreement and the promoter and network must be willing to compensate both fighters accordingly.
Both fighters are unlikely to accept a small upfront guarantee and would likely opt for a share from PPV sales.
Haney doesn’t sell
If you’re Ryan, you should acknowledge Haney’s 50,000 PPV sales for his fight with Prograis as an indication of his marketability. Garcia needs to face Haney to understand the reality, given that he has not demonstrated the ability to sell PPVs.
For some reason, fans do not have the same connection with Haney as they did with Floyd Mayweather Jr., a fighter with a similar safety-first style. Perhaps fans do not enjoy watching defensive fighters anymore, even if Floyd was at his peak. It is essential to consider this, especially when asking fans to pay $75 for a typical pay-per-view boxing event.
If this fight does not sell, Garcia will likely be disappointed as it could harm the marketability of his future fights, particularly a potential rematch with Gervonta Davis.
For Garcia, it’s a risk to take this fight, as he may not receive a substantial paycheck similar to what he earned in his previous fight with Gervonta Davis.
Garcia may be better off sticking to weaker opponents, boosting his record with wins and waiting for a lucrative rematch with Davis. However, he should avoid additional losses while waiting, as it could negatively impact his status in the boxing world.
Thanks to Garcia’s social media following, he could attract attention for a fight with nearly anyone without having to face an undersold opponent like Haney, who would likely outclass him in a one-sided match.
Haney is set to defend his WBC mandatory title against Sander Martin, and unless the World Boxing Council chooses to intervene, Haney will have to step back.
If all else fails, Haney can always petition the WBC to designate him as a franchise champion, allowing him to avoid Garcia indefinitely.
The ball is in your court Devin I have taken action and I am showing you and the boxing community that I am committed to this fight. #GarciaHaney
— Ryan Garcia (@RyanGarcia) December 20, 2023
