On April 20, 2024, Ryan Garcia faced Devin Haney in a highly anticipated fight at Barclays Center in New York City. Despite doubts about his mental readiness, Garcia delivered a stunning upset, scoring three knockdowns of Haney en route to a majority decision victory. The WBC super lightweight title was not at stake, as Garcia was over the weight limit, so Haney retained the belt despite the loss. Garcia proved his critics wrong with a dominant performance, landing 106 of 285 punches and showcasing the most impactful blows.
The fight began with Garcia rocking Haney with a massive left hook in the first round, setting the tone for the rest of the bout. Despite Haney’s accuracy, Garcia’s punches had more impact throughout the fight. Haney landed the first significant punch of the third round, but Garcia responded with a left hook that forced Haney to regroup. The action continued with Haney asserting his dominance in the fourth round, connecting with well-placed jabs and keeping Garcia on the back foot.
In the seventh round, Garcia changed the momentum by knocking Haney down with a brutal left hook, followed by two more knockdowns that were ruled as slips. Garcia continued to press forward in the following rounds, looking for the knockout blow. In the 10th round, Garcia scored another knockdown with a powerful combination, and in the 11th round, he secured a third knockdown to seal the victory. Garcia taunted Haney and danced to the final bell, proving his detractors wrong and solidifying his place in the boxing world.
In the co-main event, Arnold Barboza Jr. controversially defeated Sean McComb in a disputed split decision victory. McComb appeared to dominate most of the fight with his speed and elusiveness, but the judges ruled in favor of Barboza. Barboza switched stances effectively in the early rounds, pinning McComb against the ropes and landing solid shots. However, McComb turned the tide in the second half of the fight, outboxing Barboza and keeping him at bay with his movement and combinations.
On the undercard, Bektemir Melikuziev defeated Pierre Dibombe by technical decision in the eighth round, David Jimenez won a unanimous decision over John Ramirez for the interim WBA title, and Charles Conwell scored a TKO victory over Nathaniel Gallimore in the sixth round. The night was filled with exciting matches and surprising outcomes, further solidifying the reputation of Barclays Center as a premier venue for top-tier boxing events.
