Haney Blasts Garcia: “I’m Chasing Legacy; I’m Not Fighting For Followers”

Devin Haney Says Ryan Garcia is not Serious About Facing Top Fighters

Devin Haney pays no mind to talk from Ryan Garcia
Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia (corner) } Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank (Haney)

Devin Haney Drops Ryan Garcia from Hit List; Interested in Davis and Lomachenko


The phrase “turnabout is fair play” has a simple meaning; since you did it to me, then I’m going to do it to you. Undisputed lightweight champion Devin “The Dream” Haney (28-0, 15KO) took aim at contender Ryan Garcia (22-0, 18KO), leaving him off a list of top fighters, and expressed no interest in fighting him.

Haney is on top of the world as the true kingpin of the lightweight division after taking all the titles away from former unified champion George Kambosos Jr on June 4. During Haney’s master class performance, arch-rival Garcia was on social media claiming the fight was uneventful while trying to bait three-divisional champion Gervonta Davis into a fight.

These two fighters have a history as Haney has been trying to get Garcia in the ring. In 2021, Garcia earned the right to fight Haney, and quickly swerved off that path by calling out Davis. Furthermore, he expressed no interest in the fight while claiming Haney’s career benefited from political moves.

HANEY WANTS LEGACY FIGHTS ONLY

Sitting on the top of the throne, Haney wasted little time in firing back harshly. During an interview with The MMA Hour, the undisputed champion named his next two opponents while showing no interest in fighting Garcia.

“All of them get me excited! The Gervonta Davis, Lomachenko, those two are pretty much on top of the list because that makes the most sense. All the other guys, I really don’t rate like that.”

Haney went on a verbal assault when it was mentioned that Garcia is a popular fighter.

“[Garcia is] popular, but at the end of the day, I’m chasing legacy. I don’t care about Instagram followers or nothing like that. I want to make the biggest fights happen for my legacy more than anything. Instagram followers, that’s cool and all, but I’m not into fighting for followers.”

GARCIA IS NOT SERIOUS ABOUT FIGHTING ANYONE

The Dream went on a verbal assault when asked to pick a winner if Garcia was to Davis next. Haney expressed disbelief in the fight happening while pointing out his rival likes to work those Twitter fingers.

“I doubt that would happen. I don’t think Ryan wants to fight anybody […] he’ll tweet up a storm, he’ll call all these fighters out […] the guy uses fighters to promote his fight, and then after he wins his fight against a nobody, he goes and fights another nobody.”

“I really don’t give him too much attention because I read between the lines. I know he doesn’t really want to fight anybody.”

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By: Garrisson Bland

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Garrisson Bland - Head of Public Relations/Senior Journalist. Garrisson is the Head of Public relations for 3kingsboxing.com as well as a senior writer. He is also the host of YouTube boxing show "Truth And Facts Sports Talk."