Judges score the fight 115-109 and 114-110 for Ryan Garcia, while a third sees it even at 112-112 — Garcia has pulled off the shocking upset over Devin Haney by majority decision.
The three knockdowns end up being the deciding factor, but Garcia’s win comes with an asterisk because he was 3.2 pounds overweight coming into the fight.
Haney still retains his 140-pound WBC title despite the loss because Garcia was not eligible to win the belt. A rematch should definitely be in store.
Ryan Garcia hands Devin Haney his first loss in upset victory
Ryan Garcia knocked Devin Haney down three times and handed the WBC super lightweight champion his first loss, winning the fight by majority decision Saturday night but not the title because he was over the weight limit.
Garcia’s odd behavior in public and on social media throughout the buildup led to questions about how serious he was about this fight. It sure seemed as though he didn’t devote enough time for training when he was more than 3 pounds above the 140-pound limit on Friday.
But the speed and power in his hands was too much for Haney, who was hurt right from the opening round and went down in the seventh, 10th and 11th.
Garcia (25-1, 20 KOs) won by scores of 115-109 and 114-110 on two of the judges’ cards, while the third had it 112-112.
The Associated Press scored it 114-110 for Garcia.
The 25-year-olds from California split six fights as amateurs, but Haney had the stronger pro career, winning the undisputed lightweight title and then moving up to win the WBC belt in his first fight at 140 pounds.
Garcia couldn’t take that, but he took Haney’s perfect record. Haney fell to 31-1.
Haney had seemingly taken his place among the best fighters in the world, while it became easy to wonder if Garcia was overhyped. Garcia was stopped by Gervonta Davis last year in his biggest fight and expectations were he was going down again, even as he insisted he was ready to fight despite the appearance that he spent more time on the internet than in the gym.
His performance proved that.
He wobbled Haney with a big left hook in the opening round, and though Haney steadied himself and appeared to winning the middle rounds, Garcia’s power showed up again in the seventh.
A straight left set up the first knockdown and Haney struggled to regain his balance the rest of the round. He went down twice more in the round, but neither was ruled a knockdown by the referee, who also took a point from Garcia in the round for hitting on the break.
No matter. There was no denying the knockdowns in the 10th and 11th, and Garcia was able to spend most of the 12th taunting the champion.
It had been unclear from the start how enthused Garcia was for the fight, which he was lobbying to be held in Las Vegas even after it had already been announced for Brooklyn.
It became a non-title bout Friday when Garcia weighed in at 143.2 pounds, 3.2 above the super lightweight limit. He didn’t seem bothered, firing off social media posts saying the extra weight would make him stronger, then drinking what appeared to be a bottle of beer on the scale during the ceremonial public weigh-in later in the afternoon.
But he looked like the fast-rising sensation of earlier in his career, the crowd chanting his name as he began to dominate the latter rounds.
Round 12: Ryan Garcia holds on to take upset victory
Round 12 recap: Garcia closes the fight strong, dances around, trolls by wiggling his legs a-la Sugar Ray Leonard, and sticks his tongue out.
He celebrates like it’s a foregone conclusion he’s won after knocking Haney down three times in the fight.
Round 11 recap: Ryan Garcia knocks down Devin Haney for third time
Round 11 recap: A wobbly Devin Haney is dropped for a third time with a minute remaining in the round with yet another thudding and head-snapping left hook from Ryan Garcia.
Garcia could be three minutes away from pulling off the massive upset.
Round 10: Ryan Garcia knocks down Devin Haney, AGAIN
Round 10 recap: Ryan Garcia again knocks down Devin Haney, dropping him with a combination in the corner that was highlighted by a left hook.
Seconds later, Garcia once again delivers sweet chin music and viciously rocks Haney with a left hook moments after.
A severely hurt Haney somehow survives the round and even connects with some body shots as the rounds closes.
Round 9: Ryan Garcia trying to land a big punch
Round 9 recap: Ryan Garcia comes into the ninth round having landed 56 power shots compared to 23 from Devin Haney. Haney has landed 35 jabs compared to six from Garcia.
Garcia’s best punch of the round is a right uppercut, but Haney responds by bludgeoning Garcia with several body shots to end the round.
Round 8: Devin Haney trying to reestablish control of fight
Round 8 recap: After facing some serious adversity unlike anything he’s ever encountered in his career, Devin Haney gets his legs back under him, but a resurgent and newly revived Ryan Garcia continues to be the aggressor and pushes the pace of the fight.
But Garcia doesn’t connect with anything dangerous, allowing Haney time to recover from the beating he absorbed in the seventh round.
Round 7: Ryan Garcia knocks down Devin Haney with vicious left hook
Round 7 recap: Ryan Garcia miraculously knocks down Devin Haney with a flush left hook on the chin.
Haney gets up on shaky legs after suffering the first knock down of his career. Garcia tries to end the fight seconds after and foolishly connects with a punch on the break.
Referee Harvey Dock deducts a point for the foul. Shortly after, Haney staggers and stumbles twice during dangerous and close exchanges but Dock doesn’t rule them a knockdown.
Harvey survives the round. Garcia is officially back in the fight.
Round 6: Ryan Garcia lands flurry of punches before fading
Round 6 recap: Ryan Garcia comes out possessed and wildly swinging off his stool. He connects with several punches in the rough-and-tumble sequence before referee Harvey Dock breaks up the shoulder-to-shoulder action.
But Garcia curiously ends the round by dancing around and avoiding Devin Haney. Garcia has been having some success in spurts, but it hasn’t been consistent.
Round 5: Devin Haney stays in control vs. Ryan Garcia
Round 5 recap: Ryan Garcia started the fight by dictating the terms, now Devin Haney has turned the tables and is pushing the pace. He is fully in flow and rhythm.
Garcia times a well-placed right hand and Haney immediately holds. But Haney does enough to bank another round.
Round 4: Devin Haney chasing Ryan Garcia around ring
Round 4 recap: Devin Haney seems to be taking a page out of Ryan Garcia’s book and continues to land the left hook.
The overaggressive Garcia overreaches trying to answer back, but Haney’s defense is superior. Garcia is caught swinging and missing.
Haney has certainly recovered and reset the fight since absorbing a crushing blow in the first round. Garcia, meanwhile, has cooled off since his hot start.
Round 3: Devin Haney lands big left hook
Round 3 recap: Devin Haney lands a well-timed looping left hook that hurts Ryan Garcia and forces Garcia to back-peddle.
Garcia acknowledges the punch by pounding his gloves. Haney attacks soon after and peppers his jab. Garcia connects with a left-right combo.
It’s been a surprisingly even fight so far.
Round 2: Devin Haney regains control over Ryan Garcia
Round 2 recap: Devin Haney controls a measured second round, an ideal pace that he’s more comfortable with. Haney lands a sniper right hand that snaps back the head of Ryan Garcia.
Haney then connects with thudding jabs. Garcia recklessly swings and misses with his left hook. Haney bounces back to win the round.
Round 1: Ryan Garcia staggers Devin Haney with quick start
Round 1 recap: Ryan Garcia presses the action right off the get-go and connects with his patented left hook on the chin, rocking and staggering Devin Haney in the opening minute.
Haney immediately holds. Garcia lands another left and controls the entire round. Garcia landed nine power punches in the round, and Haney answered with none. Wow, we didn’t see this coming right off the top.
Arnold Barboza Jr. prevails over Sean McComb with questionable split decision win
Super lightweight title contender Arnold Barboza Jr. didn’t make the most of his co-main event against Sean McComb, but he nonetheless managed to achieve a questionable split decision victory.
The tricky and cagey McComb frustrated Barboza throughout the fight by masterfully boxing off his back foot and controlling the fight’s pace by peppering punches and dictating the action, never allowing Barboza to find a groove.
But Barboza was awarded scores of 96-94 and 97-93, while another judge had it 98-92 for McComb. The DAZN broadcast had the fight scored 97-93 in favor of McComb.
Barboza (30-0, 11 KOs) escaped with the win and had a muted celebration as the crowd booed the decision, believing McComb (18-2, 5 KOs) did enough to win.
The busier McComb outlanded Barboza 107 to 99 in the 10-round contest.
El Monte’s Barboza paid homage to the Brooklyn Dodgers with his ring attire, but he couldn’t dodge McComb’s crisp left hand and right hook.
Neither fighter necessarily looked eager to force the action, and the tactical fight took place at range and unfolded one punch at a time.
It’s now time for Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney.
Ryan Garcia serenaded by a string quartet, visits with Mike Tyson
The unpredictable Ryan Garcia had a string quartet performing live classical music in his dressing room ahead of his fight against Devin Haney.
“King Ry” has also been adorned with a diamond-encrusted crown worth $1 million and greeted by boxing royalty, as Mike Tyson stopped by to exchange pleasantries.
Haney, meanwhile, continues to be all business. The cameras showed him warming up and hitting the pads.
Bektemir Melikuziev beats Pierre Dibombe in bloody bout that ends prematurely
The fight between Bektemir Melikuziev and Pierre Dibombe became a bloody mess after both boxers traded eye-gashing headbutts. Melikuziev’s cut proved to be worse, forcing a stoppage seconds in the eighth round.
The back-and-forth brawl went to the scorecards, and Melikuziev, who had knocked down Dibombe in the fifth, had done more than enough to score the win.
Melikuziev (14-1, 10 KOs), a 2016 Olympics silver medalist from Uzbekistan, was awarded scores of 79-73, 79-73, and 78-74 in a super middleweight matchup that was scheduled for 10 rounds.
The relatively unknown Dibombe (22-1-1, 12 KOs), from Nantes, France, suffered a nasty cut underneath his right eyebrow in the closing seconds of the first round because of an accidental headbutt. Midway through the second, the referee halted the fight and requested the ringside physician to inspect the gash.
The pouring of blood from the cut didn’t deter Dibombe.
By the end of the fourth round, Dibombe had opened a cut near Melikuziev’s left eye with an accidental headbutt of his own. Dibombe also opened a cut on Melikuziev’s nose.
Then Melikuziev scored a knockdown by dropping Dibombe in the opening minute of the fifth round with a left hand. Seconds later, the action stopped again, this time as the referee asked the physician to inspect Melikuziev’s nasty cut.
With the fight seemingly in the doctor’s hands, both fighters came out swinging in the sixth, trading an equal amount of leather, but it was the more aggressive Melikuziev who was outmuscling Dibombe.
The fight was finally stopped seconds into the eighth round. The round was scored even though neither fighter threw a punch.
Melikuziev outlanded Dibombe 80 to 58 in the fight.
David Jimenez outlasts John ‘Scrappy’ Ramirez to score unanimous decision
An entertaining firefight ensued between super flyweights John “Scrappy” Ramirez and David Jimenez, and it was Jimenez who ultimately outlasted Ramirez, scoring a unanimous decision to take the interim 115-pound WBA title.
Judges scored the tit-for-tat, seesaw slugfest 117-111, 117-111, 116-112 for the 32-year-old from Cartago, Costa Rica.
The fight was fairly even in the first half but the dogged Jimenez (16-1, 11 KOs) pulled away late with a sustained attack against the Los Angeles born-and-bred Ramirez (13-1, 9 KOs).
Ramirez outlanded Jimenez 80 to 68 throughout the first five rounds, but Jimenez closed strong, outlanding Ramirez 86 to 37 in the last five rounds of the 12-round fight.
Jimenez finished connecting 191 of 722 punches, and Ramirez landed 142 of 531.
Experts predict winner of Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia
If I could be confident that Garcia was mentally focused and into this fight, this would be a very tough pick. But given that Garcia seems anything but serious, I see a one-sided Haney win. I think Haney may stop him in the middle third of the fight, as Garcia gets frustrated by the way it’s going and makes a mistake that Haney capitalizes upon. Haney by eighth-round technical knockout.
— Kevin Iole, founder, KevinIole.com
I thought Haney was the rightful significant favorite when the fight was made and with Garcia’s wild and unhinged behavior in recent weeks, it makes me more confident Haney will retain the title by clear decision — he might even make Garcia quit in frustration.
— Dan Rafael, founder, Fight Freaks Unite
Haney is locked in. Working with a game plan like the one he and father/trainer Bill devised to dominate Regis Prograis last December, Haney will disarm Garcia of his offensive weapons with slick movement and defense skills. Haney will humble and humiliate Garcia, make him miss, and make him pay for his pre-fight antics. The question remaining is whether Haney stops Garcia in the second half of the fight due to an accumulation of damage, whether the referee steps in to stop Haney from playing with Garcia like wounded prey, or whether Garcia retires in the corner and calls it a night — or career.
— Gayle Falkenthal, West Coast bureau chief, NYFights.com
Both possess an abundance of boxing skills. Mindset and confidence? That’s where I believe Haney is light years ahead of Garcia. Victories over Vasiliy Lomachenko, two over George Kambosos Jr. and a shutout against the extremely talented Regis Prograis have made Haney big-fight ready. Several weeks ago, Garcia sounded so unglued that the fight seemed to be in jeopardy. Garcia’s hand speed will be nullified by Haney’s even quicker hands, accuracy, timing, patience, and discipline. With every fight, Haney seems to get better. It’s hard to envision Garcia knocking Haney out and even harder to picture him outboxing him over 12 rounds. Haney by unanimous decision.
— Randy Gordon, SiriusXM Fight Nation host of “At the Fights”
Garcia is either crazy or calculated. Everybody seems to have some sort of an opinion. But Devin Haney doesn’t have to diagnose Garcia. He doesn’t have to understand him. He only has to beat him. He’ll do that, first by eluding an early attempt by Garcia to land his powerful left and then with a disciplined skill set that will prove to be more precise and punishing than anything Garcia has promised, both in social media and during news conferences. Haney by unanimous decision.
— Norm Frauenheim, writer, 15Rounds.com
New York Mets officials “picked up on the fact” Garcia and Haney were about to stage a fight at Citi Field, which is why their invitations to throw out ceremonial first pitches were rescinded Tuesday, a team insider told me. Here they were, days away from the most important fight of their careers, and Garcia and Haney were allegedly working together to drum up publicity. They were behaving like business partners, not enemies. Which makes sense. This is more a promotion than it is a fight. Haney might not have a chin, but he’s probably the most disciplined of boxing’s new wave of stars. He’s an overwhelming favorite in this fight, as he should be. Garcia can sell a fight in an era in which fights have trouble selling, but that’s more or less all he brings. His upper body and lower body don’t work together, which slow down his transitions from offense to defense, and vice versa. The power and speed in his hands will always give him a puncher’s chance, but I don’t see his feet ever being in the right place for him to land that punch. Haney should win comfortably, either by a lopsided decision or late stoppage. An additional note on the Citi Field incident: Garcia’s promoter, Oscar de la Hoya, was offered a chance to throw out a first pitch instead, but he refused, my source said.
— Dylan Hernández, columnist, Los Angeles Times
Garcia seems to be all over the place mentally and physically, and that can’t be good ahead of one of the most critical fights in his career. On the other hand, Haney has taken this fight more seriously, works hard, and comes from a tough win against Vasiliy Lomachenko and an easy victory over Regis Prograis. Haney has better movement and decent power, but Garcia has a dangerous left hook. They fought each other six times in the amateurs, so Garcia will feel more comfortable with Haney than he did against Gervonta Davis because he knows what to expect. However, Haney is a better professional fighter and can adjust to many things that happen during the fight. Garcia will realize that during the middle rounds and lose by unanimous decision.
— Eduard Cauich, sports reporter, Los Angeles Times en Español
The erratic behavior that García has shown during his social media rampage could be an indication of something that is not right, and that must be looked at on a deeper level. His mental stability has even been questioned by the New York Athletic Commission. It’s concerning to say the least and has become a distraction of major proportions — Garcia could be in serious trouble. Haney is coming off a dominant victory against Regis Prograis and knows that beating Garcia will cement himself as one of the best in the division. Haney by 10th-round knockout.
— Jad El Reda, sports reporter, Los Angeles Times en Español
Charles Conwell scores sixth-round TKO over Nathaniel Gallimore
Charles Conwell ended a 15-month layoff and made his Golden Boy debut in impressive fashion, scoring a sixth-round stoppage victory over Nathaniel Gallimore to kick off the pay-per-view portion of tonight’s event.
Conwell (19-0, 14 KOs), a 2016 U.S. Olympian, did not appear to be fighting off any rust.
By the third round, the 26-year-old super welterweight contender from Cleveland was bruising and battering Gallimore (22-8-1, 17 KOs), opening a cut around his right eye and drawing blood from his nose.
Conwell’s right uppercut, hooks and flurry of combinations were too much for Gallimore.
The ringside physician inspected Gallimore before the fourth round after he had absorbed 54 power punches through the first nine minutes.
By the end of the fifth round, referee Arthur Mercante Jr. warned Gallimore that he’d stop the fight if the one-way onslaught continued.
After Gallimore absorbed more unanswered shots to start the sixth, Mercante stopped the fight.
Conwell connected with 136 punches, and Gallimore answered with just 39. Conwell landed 41% of his 331 punches and 50% of his power punches, according to CompuBox.
More experts predict the winner of Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia
Throughout the build-up, many have questioned which Ryan Garcia will show up Saturday night. The thing is, I don’t think it matters which version shows up, be it the best version of the skillful social media star or the distracted one that we have seen on his many platforms. Haney has developed more as a pro, and he is a more rounded fighter. He’s beaten better opponents. Timing can often beat speed, and professionalism and talent go a long way. The enigmatic Garcia will always be dangerous with his left hook, but someone like Haney will know how to guard against that, and the champion will likely dictate with straight shots through the middle. I imagine he will try to physically bully Garcia, too, and while I can see Garcia hoping for a trapdoor to escape in the later rounds, if he chooses to be defensive and survive, then Garcia will be able to find the final bell but lose a decision by four to six points on the scorecards.
— Tris Dixon, editor-in-chief, BoxingScene.com
I don’t think it will be a shutout for Haney and I don’t think he’ll get the knockout that a lot of our peers are predicting. And I get why the media has no confidence in Garcia. I feel the same way, but I’m not forgetting that he has quicker hands and more power than Haney, or that he has a middleweight’s frame. Garcia’s influencer lifestyle seems like a negative distraction to me and most people my age or older, but maybe it isn’t mentally draining to a Gen-Z athlete who has grown up with social media. We’ll find out about Garcia’s conditioning and preparation once he’s in the ring against Haney, and we’ll see how well he can focus against a disciplined, young master boxer. I think Haney, leery of Garcia’s explosive counters, boxes cautiously over the first half of the fight and then gradually tries to press and hurt the popular underdog over the second half. I don’t think Haney will get the KO because he won’t go all out in fear of getting clipped, but he’ll do more than enough to win a decision.
— Doug Fischer, editor in chief, Ring Magazine
This fight feels like a reckoning for Garcia, whose fame and prominence surpassed his actual ring accomplishments a few years ago. Gervonta Davis’ power exposed some of Garcia’s flaws, and Haney’s technical skill is primed to expose others. Although Haney is an impressive fighter, he hasn’t shown the hands to stop a top opponent, so that gives Garcia a true puncher’s chance — but not much more. I’m predicting a decision, but this is a golden opportunity for Haney to push for a knockout and a signature victory. If Garcia falls, here’s hoping he takes some time away and gets help to refocus his mind and his priorities. Haney by wide unanimous decision.
— Greg Beacham, sports reporter, Associated Press
As conspicuous as the power in Garcia’s whipping left hook is concern for his preparation amid his public disposition. At best, he has had a distracted camp. At worst, he isn’t in fighting condition. As always, his speed and explosiveness are dangerous for Haney if he isn’t wary. But Haney exists in another class, schooled and steeled at the championship level amid his gradual ascendance the last several years into one of boxing’s pound-for-pound elite. He showed more power at 140 pounds in his December schooling of Regis Prograis. He stymies Garcia early and opens up late. Haney by 10th-round stoppage.
— Sam Gordon, sports reporter, San Francisco Chronicle
Garcia can win this fight. He has natural speed and power advantages over Haney, who has proved to be a savvy technician in the ring. Garcia has raised serious questions with his acts throughout the promotion, while Haney has appeared to have been diligently working. Haney has proven to be sharp as a razor over his last four fights and is coming into the fight with big confidence. If it wasn’t for the behavior Garcia has shown, I’d want to lean toward him. But I’m going with Haney by unanimous decision.
— Marcos Villegas, founder, FightHubTV
I believe people are underestimating Garcia, who is quicker and more powerful (at least pound for pound) than Haney. And he’s a good boxer, contrary to the opinion of some observers. The problem for him is that Haney’s skillset rivals that of anyone on the planet, including the likes of Shakur Stevenson, Gervonta Davis, and Vasiliy Lomachenko. That’s how he has been able to take down one elite opponent after another. And while Garcia’s erratic behavior outside the ring has raised questions about his focus and mental health, Haney is locked in mentally. He’s stable, disciplined, and focused 100% on his boxing career, which has allowed him to make the most of his natural gifts. A focused boxing wizard like Haney will be too much for a seemingly fragile, limited opponent like Garcia. Haney will win by a one-sided decision.
— Michael Rosenthal, editor, Boxing Junkie (USA Today Sports)
Tale of the tape between Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia
Devin Haney
Age: 25
Hometown: Las Vegas
Record: 31-0, 15 KOs
Nickname: “The Dream”
Total rounds fought: 210
Knockout ratio: 48.3%
Height: 5 feet 8 inches
Reach: 71 inches
Weight: 140 pounds
Stance: Orthodox
Trainer: Bill Haney
Turned Professional: 2015
Notable wins: Regis Prograis, Vasiliy Lomachenko, George Kambosos Jr. (twice), Joseph Diaz Jr., Jorge Linares, and Yuriorkis Gamboa.
Ryan Garcia
Age: 25
Hometown: Victorville, California
Record: 24-1, 20 KOs
Nickname: King Ry
Total rounds fought: 100
Knockout ratio: 83.3%
Height: 5 feet 8 ½ inches
Reach: 70 inches
Weight: 143.2 pounds
Stance: Orthodox
Trainer: Derrick James
Turned Professional: 2016
Notable wins: Luke Campbell, Javier Fortuna, Oscar Duarte
Nobody pities the King: Inside Ryan Garcia’s doomed fight for boxing credibility
Editor’s note: This story originally published on April 27, 2023.
Well, I suppose there was never any stopping him. His promoters tried to talk some sense into him, but the pug insisted on blazing this path. He wanted to walk directly through the fire, with his chin held high toward victory. This was what it meant to be a man, right? To be the Mexican warrior he so badly wanted to embody. The paperwork had long been signed and the fight announced. There was no backing out of it, despite how many people thought he was delusional for taking such a risky fight. Didn’t he know? No one had ever survived one of these maulings. Men walked into the ring only to end the night sullen and swollen, broken and confused at how — or when — they nosedived toward the canvas.
It was hard to believe some pretty boy from Victorville had much more of a chance.
But he was assured of his victory. He had no reason to be otherwise. Ryan Garcia, a man-made boxing king of the next generation, wasn’t just going to fight Gervonta “Tank” Davis, the self-proclaimed savage from west Baltimore, in an undefeated vs. undefeated pride fight in the heart of Sin City. He told me, emphatically, that he was “gonna shock the world.” He saw the scrap as his sole moment, the only thing he could currently conquer to prove he belonged with the big boys of boxing.
A wild ride with boxing star Devin Haney: ‘In the end, I will be No. 1’
Editor’s note: This story originally published on Dec. 3, 2023.
In a flash, and through a bevy of bezels and gold, there he appeared. His fans call him “The Dream” these days. Which, wouldn’t you if you saw Money Mayweather’s finest disciple dazzle to a defining 30-0 record? But, as we cruise around Westwood, wind in our hair, tires screeching without wear, the young money man shines. As he constantly reminds me, Devin Haney is one of a kind. OK, how’s Hollywood Haney, instead, Dev? Ya know, given the backdrop and all? Shame he can’t hear me. That howling roar from the engine of his Lamborghini Aventador — lookin’ swimming draped in the best baby blue bands can buy — muffled any surrounding noise.
That’s the way Haney prefers it these days. No matter what it may seem to those on the outside. He’s a man with a plan, lucrative and grand and he surely doesn’t give a damn if you agree.
So far, he’s made the impossible happen through boxing, and boxing alone. After dropping out of school at 13 years old, he had no other choice. Empowered and influenced by his father’s street-science, he hopped the border by 17, turned pro in Mexico and fought for scraps in small bars in Tijuana that looked more like the Salty Spitoon than a ring for refuge.
L.A.’s Arnold Barboza, John ‘Scrappy’ Ramirez to be featured on Haney-Garcia undercard
The pay-per-view card headlined by Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia will begin at 5 p.m. PDT and will be complemented by four fights — two of which will feature Los Angeles-based boxers in separate bouts.
Super lightweight contender Arnold Barboza Jr. (29-0, 11 KOs) will square off against Sean McComb (18-1, 5 KOs) in a showdown scheduled for 10 rounds. El Monte’s Barboza signed with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions in November and secured an eighth-round stoppage against Xolisani Ndongeni in January.
In another bout, local 115-pound dynamo John “Scrappy” Ramirez (13-0, 9 KOs) will fight David Jimenez (15-1, 11 KOs) for the WBA interim title. Ramirez battered and blasted Ronal Batista in October to set up his title shot.
Also, 2016 Uzbekistani Olympian Bektemir Melikuziev (13-1, 10 KOs) will fight Pierre Dibombe (22-0-1, 12 KOs) of Nantes, France, in a 10-round super middleweight matchup. Melikuziev trains out of Indio with coach Joel Diaz.
Opening the PPV telecast will be 2016 United States Olympian Charles Conwell (18-0, 13 KOs) making his Golden Boy debut against Nathaniel Gallimore (22-7-1, 17 KOs) in a 10-round super welterweight bout.
The preliminary action is available on the Golden Boy YouTube channel.
Betting odds and lines for Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia
Devin Haney is listed as a -900 betting favorite, and Ryan Garcia is listed as a +600 betting underdog.
The over/under for the total number of rounds the fight is set to last is listed at 10.5.
A full breakdown of bets and methods of victory can be seen here, as offered by DraftKings.
How to watch Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia
The fight between Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia will be available via pay-per-view on DAZN (subscription required) or on PPV.com (no subscription required).
The PPV portion of the fight card begins at 5 p.m. PDT.
If you’re in the Brooklyn, New York area and want to be ringside at the Barclays Center, tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster, the event’s official ticket distribution service.
On Tap Sports has a directory for all the bars and restaurants that will show the fight. Call in advance to confirm they are carrying the card and to inquire about cover charges or minimum spend requirements.