WBC lightweight titleholder Devin Haney was in attendance today in Dallas, where Ryan Garcia knocked out Luke Campbell to become the interim WBC titlist, which is a belt-giving way of saying he’s now Haney’s mandatory challenger.
Haney (25-0, 15 KO) gave Garcia some respect for the win, but also said the young star showed a lot of flaws.
“It was a good fight. He went in there, he got the win, but of course he got knocked down and showed some flaws, but he also showed that he had heart, and he got the win,” Haney said.
Asked if he felt the fight between the two could happen this year, Haney responded, “Hopefully! That’s a fight that I would love to make. He’s my mandatory now. We’re gonna take the things we’ve got to do and fight my mandatory, and we gotta see if it happens.”
And asked to elaborate on Garcia’s flaws, Haney began, “Truthfully, I’ve seen a lot of flaws. Ryan is a good fighter and everything, but...”
Haney trailed off then when Garcia (21-0, 18 KO) came over to him, and the two had what seemed to be a pretty pleasant exchange. The pair are about the same age, fought multiple times in the amateurs, and have repeatedly expressed respect for one another, with some light but not wild trash talk mixed in. This is a fight that seems pretty easy to make, and could well come next for both.