Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney, two rising stars in the boxing world, faced off in a much-anticipated fight at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on April 20, 2024. The buildup to the fight was filled with tension and drama as both fighters made headlines for various reasons leading up to the event.
Garcia visited The Empire State Building in New York on April 16, 2024, as part of his media obligations for the fight against Haney. Haney also made an appearance at the iconic landmark during the same time. Garcia sat on a makeshift throne during a news conference for his fight against Haney at Palladium Times Square in New York on Feb. 27, 2024.
The day before the fight, however, Garcia missed weight by 3.2 pounds and had to pay $1.5 million as per an agreement with Haney. Despite this setback, the fight went on at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
In the ring, Garcia knocked down Haney three times during the fight but ultimately lost by majority decision. It was Haney's first defeat in his professional career.
The undercard of the event featured several other notable fights, including Bektemir Melikuziev knocking down Pierre Dibombe during their WBA Inter-Continental Super Middleweight title bout and David Jimenez defeating John Ramirez in their WBA Super Flyweight Interim Championship bout.
The fight between Garcia and Haney was a significant one, with both fighters looking to make a statement in the super lightweight division. Despite missing weight, Garcia put on an impressive performance but ultimately came up short against Haney. The loss marked a setback for Garcia but also provided valuable learning experience for him as he continues to grow as a fighter.
The event took place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, and was broadcasted live on various platforms including DAZN PPV.