Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia: Latest Rumors on Contract, Money ...
Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy/Getty Images
After Ryan Garcia failed to make weight Friday for his scheduled 140-pound title fight against Devin Haney on Saturday, the two sides reportedly agreed to a new financial deal that will result in Garcia paying Haney extra to ensure the bout still happens.
According to veteran boxing reporter Dan Rafael, the new agreement will see Garcia pay Haney $600,000 out of his purse, plus 2 percent of his pay-per-view profit should the event reach "a predetermined number of buys."
From my <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HaneyGarcia?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HaneyGarcia</a> weigh-in story — the deal details. Sign up for my <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/boxing?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#boxing</a> newsletter for the facts and real reporting at the address below. <a href="https://t.co/MzQbYNwbEx">pic.twitter.com/MzQbYNwbEx</a>
Per ESPN's Mike Coppinger, Haney and Garcia made a handshake deal at their press conference Thursday on the grounds that Garcia would pay Haney $500,000 for every pound he was overweight.
While Haney posted Friday on X that Garcia had agreed to honor the handshake deal, it reportedly isn't actually happening.
Rafael wrote that both sides are "keeping up he appearance" of the $500,000 per pound agreement after Garcia weighed in at 143 pounds even though it isn't true.
Haney's WBC super lightweight title will no longer be on the line Saturday night in Las Vegas, but there is one factor working in Garcia's favor.
Coppinger reported that as part of the terms of the new deal between Garcia and Haney, Garcia will not have to weigh in again before the fight on Saturday.
That means Garcia could conceivably have a significant weight advantage over Haney, and thus a punching-power advantage as well.
Even so, Haney is a heavy favorite, and the overall expectation is that he will improve upon his perfect career record of 31-0.
After becoming the unified lightweight champion in 2022 by virtue of a win over George Kambosos Jr., Haney beat Kambosos in a rematch and also defeated Vasiliy Lomachenko.
With nothing left to prove at lightweight, Haney moved up to super lightweight and beat Regis Prograis for the WBC super lightweight title in his first bout in that weight class.
Garcia is a former lightweight champion in his own right, but he recently moved up in weight, beating Oscar Duarte at 143 pounds in December.
In his fight before beating Duarte, Garcia lost to Gervonta Davis by knockout at 136 pounds, marking the first and only loss in the professional career of the 24-1 Garcia to date.
Even without a title on the line, a win over Haney would be the biggest victory of Garcia's career, and it would likely earn him a rematch for the WBC super lightweight title in the future if he can get back down to 140 pounds.
