Ryan Garcia: Haney gotta prove to me he’s a champion
Ryan “The Flash” Garcia (20-0, 17ko) had an easy day at the office on February 14, effectively getting the dirt off his shoulders by dismantling Francisco Fonseca (25-3-2, 19ko) in the first round. It was indeed a coming-out party prelude to the upcoming bout with former world champion Jorge “El Nino De Oro” Linares (47-5, 29ko).
After the fight, there was the usual post-fight presser. There, the jubilant WBC Silver titlist didn’t hold back when asked about the confrontation with rival WBC champion “In recess” Devin ‘The Dream” Haney (24-0, 15ko).
“He has a lot of catching up to do. I know he’s a champ but I told him to his face, if you’re a champ, I’m a champ!
Because you ain’t did nothing to make me think you’re a champion, your gonna have to prove it to me like I’m about to prove it to everybody else. Your gonna have to get into the grind mode like me.”
Garcia would also express that he wants the WBC champion to be successful.
“I want him to be great. He was great in the amateurs just like me, so it’s like who’s going to really put in the sacrifice. I want him to reach some greatness.
He didn’t have a good performance last fight. I want him to come back and have a great one. ‘Cause I want to fight someone just as great as me. So I can test myself like ‘fuck this ain’t going my way, but I’m going to figure some shit out’.”
This is when Hall of Fame/Golden Boy Promotions brass Bernard Hopkins chimed in with a statement of an executive card-carrying member. He praised the flashy young protégé for wanting Haney to come back looking great. How he sees it, saving that fight for last is a good build-up.
Garcia’s momentum is at an all-time high. This situation with the WBC champion is like a powder keg with a long fuse trail. If you haven’t been paying attention, the lightweight division is stockpiled with young hungry Lions. The most refreshing part about all this is that they all want to fight each other and boxing fans are the winner in this situation.
By: Garrisson Bland
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