Undefeated Devin Haney puts his WBC super lightweight belt on the line against one-loss challenger Ryan Garcia in a scheduled 12-round bout on Saturday, April 20 in Brooklyn, NY. Each of Haney’s last 13 fights has been for some sort of title. Most recently he moved up a weight class vacating his unified lightweight championship to tangle with Regis Prograis for the strap. In a dominant unanimous decision, Haney added another belt becoming a two-division world champion at just 25 years old.
Although he has only one loss in 24 professional fights, Garcia comes in as a huge +545 underdog on the opening boxing betting line. Garcia rebounded from his first setback with a strong performance against Oscar Duarte, sending him to the canvas in the eighth round with a combination of punches. In his previous fight against Gervonta Davis, Garcia was criticized for not getting off the mat after being knocked down in the seventh round.
Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia Betting Odds
Devin Haney -900
Ryan Garcia +545
The 12-round super lightweight title fight between champion Devin Haney ( 31-0, 15 KOs ) and challenger Ryan Garcia ( 24-1, 20 KOs ) will take place on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY and will be streamed on DAZN.
Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia Fight Preview
The fighters have a history from their amateur days squaring off a number of times. And I think you can safely say they won’t be exchanging Christmas cards. The two split six fights back in their younger days and will be tangling for the first time as pros.
Haney has had the better career to this point claiming the interim WBC lightweight title with a win over Zaur Abdullaev in 2019. Just two months later he posted the first of four successful title defenses with a unanimous decision of Alfredo Santiago.
In June 2022, Haney outpointed George Kambosos Jr. to become the first undisputed lightweight champion in the four-belt era. Haney showed off his superior boxing skills avoiding the powerful punches of his opponent to win a healthy unanimous decision. The contract included an automatic rematch which Kambosos activated. And the result in the second bout was similar to the first with Haney again scoring a UD.
A second title defense was lined up against former unified lightweight champ Vasiliy Lomachenko in May 2023. An underdog for the first time, Lomachenko dominated the later rounds breaking down Haney’s defenses with sharp jabs. Both fighters had success with Haney landing jarring body shots that staggered his opponent. Ultimately, Haney was awarded a UD, though without controversy.
Following the win Haney moved up in weight to challenge Regis Prograis for the super lightweight strap. In what he described as the best fight of his life, Haney put on a clinic sending the champ to the canvas in the third round and staggering him on several other occasions eventually scoring a convincing UD.
With the fight still on for now, there have been questions regarding the mental stability of Garcia. However, when he’s on he’s a solid fighter. He beat Olympic gold medalist Luke Campbell for the vacant WBC interim lightweight title in early 2021. However, injuries and mental health concerns forced the cancellation of two fights with Garcia being stripped of his title. After 15 months Garcia returned to the ring in a non-title fight against former IBO lightweight champ Emmanuel Tagoe. Garcia knocked his opponent down in the second round en route to a convincing UD.
Following his loss to Davis, Garcia made changes to his corner bringing in a new trainer. The move succeeded with a KO win over Oscar Duarte in December.
Bet Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia
Given his success against undoubtedly stiffer competition it isn’t a surprise to see Haney as the favorite. However, the odds seem astronomically large in his favor making me want to back Garcia just for a substantial payout. I’m not going to do that, though, since Haney’s attack and retreat style has been so successful in frustrating and wearing down opponents. Haney has deceptive power you wouldn’t know with his last eight fights going to the judges. He’s been a winner on every scorecard in all those bouts and this one could very easily go the distance.
Boxing Odds Pick: Devin Haney / Unanimous Decision
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