Ryan Garcia felt underrated against Devin Haney.
Garcia faces two-division world champion Haney, who currently holds the WBC junior welterweight title, on Saturday, April 20, from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Even though Haney, is a boxer, Garcia made some harsh comments towards him before their clash.
Speaking in Texas last week during his media workout, Garcia took time to answer questions and one of the most provocative came from his assessment of his opponent’s punching ability.
Haney was considered one of the most intellectual warriors of his time.
“In my opinion, I think people overestimate his Devin Haney’s boxing ability,” Garcia said.
However, Garcia doesn’t feel any love for his boxing acumen.
Garcia was a decorated national champion as an amateur.
He went 3-3 with Haney in the amateurs, but it was often his speed and power that was talked about, not his boxing ability or ring intelligence.
One reason Garcia may be underrated is some of his clumsy defensive maneuvering.
He can move straight back – a no-no as it results in being hit with a powerful blow from the opponent’s dominant hand.
In his last fight with Oscar Duarte, Garcia used an odd-looking “shoulder roll” – and was ridiculed.
Garcia is very good at what he does, he has great timing and fights long, but he arguably hasn’t shown his full potential as a professional yet.
His best performance was the save from Luke Campbell in which he raced out of goal.
It was not, for example, the dominant performance that Haney had just delivered on Régis Prograis.
The other glaring hole in Garcia’s resume is that he has never won a world title.
Garcia was stopped by Davis in the seventh round and while the contest did over a million pay-per-view buys, Garcia had to agree to a rehydration clause.
Now, Garcia gets his second act on the pay-per-view – this time against Haney – a fighter not known for his prowess.
Can Garcia redeem his previous professional failure and build on his past amateur success?
Garcia is the underdog, but it seems like he thinks he can do it.