Devin Haney vs Ryan Garcia: Betting Odds & Prediction

(Featured image: Alamy Images)

Written by: Bradley Walker

WBC super-lightweight champion Devin Haney faces-off with long-term rival Ryan Garcia at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Saturday. 

The pair have a long history having faced and beaten each other in the amateur code but now collide in the paid ranks in one of boxing's standout contest of the year so far.

Tale of the Tape 

Haney (31-0, 15KOs) comes into the contest on the back of a career-best performance and victory over former titleholder Regis Prograis. The 25-year-old dropped and comprehensively outboxed the latter in December, winning all 12 rounds on all three judge's scorecards at the conclusion of the contest. The win saw Haney collect the WBC title at 140lbs after previously reigning as undisputed champion down at lightweight. 

Haney isn't renowned for his punching power and hasn't won a fight inside the distance since September 2019, yet landed a third-round knockdown over Prograis with a perfectly-timed straight right which planted the American on the seat of his trunks in San Francisco. Haney, meanwhile, has not been floored in any of his 31 contests, though he was badly hurt towards the end of the tenth-round in his bout with Jorge Linares just under three years ago. He eventually had his hand raised via unanimous decision. 

Unlike his opponent this weekend, Garcia (24-1, 20KOs) has been down twice in his professional career so far. The Californian climbed off the canvas in round two of his 2021 bout with Luke Campbell to eventually stop the Briton with a left to the body three rounds later. He was also floored twice en route to his first pro defeat to Gervonta Davis in April last year, first by a left hook counter to the head in the second before the same shot to the body dropped him to his knees five rounds later. Garcia was eventually counted out by referee Thomas Taylor. 

The 25-year-old has appeared once since the loss, knocking out Oscar Duarte inside eight rounds in December. 

Prediction

Not only are there questions about Garcia's ability to compete at the elite level, but many are also questioning his mental state given recent outbursts on social media. Bizarre postings on both his X and Instagram accounts left many wondering whether he should even be allowed to step between the ropes this weekend.

Garcia was also accused of 'quitting' in his loss to Davis - an accusation Haney himself has thrown his way during the build-up, and regardless of one's opinion on the matter, Garcia's preparation for such a big fight has hardly appeared ideal. 

Haney meanwhile has shown a composure far beyond his years since his first world title defence back in November 2019. Consecutive trips to Australia to face hometown favourite George Kambosos Jr saw the American emerge victorious without breaking sweat, and Haney also fought over 12 hard rounds to earn an albeit controversial split-decision victory over ring legend Vasyl Lomachenko last year. His victory over Prograis remains his most impressive feat yet, and so it's easy to see why he enters such an overwhelming favourite (1/8) on the money-line. 

While a Haney stoppage victory seems unlikely, him landing another knockdown over Garcia this weekend is not; Garcia's greatest strength is his left hook but the shot can at times be his biggest weakness due to his tendency to leave his chin in the air, thus leaving him vulnerable to a counter, as seen in the first knockdown against Davis.

Haney's precision, exemplified perfectly in the Prograis win, will take advantage of such an opportunity should it present itself as he continues to grow into one of the sport's finest pound-for-pound fighters on the planet. 

OddsNow's Picks: Devin Haney to score a knockdown (5/4 @ bet365); Haney to win by decision/technical decision (8/11 @ bet365)

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