Boxing News: Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia Off? Oscar De La Hoya Is Concerned

After stopping Oscar Duarte in December, the wheels were in motion for Ryan Garcia to step up and fight Devin Haney for Haney's WBC super-lightweight title in March.
In a tweet from Garcia Saturday, however, it appears he is looking elsewhere.
"I’ve notified my team I’m going a different route," Garcia wrote. "My intent now is to fight Rolando Romero. I pray my team backs me on this decision. Oscar make this fight happen. THATS THE MOVE. BIGGER FIGHT, BIGGER BUSINESS". #GarciaRomero
Haney wasted no time responding to Garcia, which sent boxing Twitter into a frenzy.
Don’t ever mention my name pussy boi.. https://t.co/5YQe6Chf6l
— Devin Haney (@Realdevinhaney) January 6, 2024
"Don’t ever mention my name p**** boi," Haney wrote.
Both tweets have millions of views between the two fanbases at press time, making a potential grudge match inevitable.
This exchange was news to Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya, who was in Las Vegas, Nev., for DAZN'S first event of the year, headlined by Vergil Ortiz and Fredrick Lawson.
Oscar De La Hoya on Ryan Garcia changing his mind and wanting to fight Rolly Romero next instead of Devin Haney: “I haven’t spoken to him whatsoever. I don’t know exactly what’s happening with him and his team. He has an advisor and he has other people whispering in his ear. I’m…
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) January 7, 2024
"I haven’t spoken to him whatsoever," De La Hoya said. "I don’t know exactly what’s happening with him and his team. He has an advisor and he has other people whispering in his ear. I’m here whenever he wants to talk. But my specific instructions two weeks ago were, ‘Oscar, get me Haney.’”
Haney is coming off another masterclass performance against Regis Prograis, which also took place in December. Before the fight, Haney told ESPN he would take his talents elsewhere and no longer be the undisputed king at lightweight.
It is unknown whether or not Haney and Garcia will ever cross paths, but only time will tell.
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Zain Bando is a writer & columnist for Gameday Media's MMA Knockout, expanding his portfolio as a Staff Writer for Dallas Wings On SI with previous in-network contributions around the echosystem. Outside of covering fights, Bando's background includes Big Ten football and men's basketball with leans toward Illinois and Northwestern with a broader league view for bylines including The Sporting News, FanSided, Men's Journal and others since 2019. Bando can be reached at zainbando99@gmail.com or via his social media accounts @zainbando99.
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