Devin Haney vs Ryan Garcia preview: Betting tips and odds

Devin Haney vs Ryan Garcia is a fight boxing fans have been longing for, and on Saturday, 20th April, they get their wish.

The huge names from the super lightweight division go head-to-head at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, in a clash broadcast live on DAZN. 

With a capacity crowd in attendance, both fighters vying for the WBC World Super light title, and a monumental global TV audience, Garcia v Haney has all the ingredients of a thriller. But which fighter will leave with the belt and set up a huge 2024? 

Keep reading as talkSPORT’s in-house expert and former professional boxer himself, Frankie Monkhouse previews the action and offers his expert predictions at attractive betting odds.

Current Haney vs Garcia odds

Excitement is building ahead of Haney vs Garcia, and the competitive odds, exciting markets, and unique promotions at leading online betting apps reflect that.

Which warrior is the pre-fight favourite, and where will you find the gambling value ahead of this WBC title bout? I’ll reveal all in this article. 

The odds below are correct at the time of writing, but please remember that boxing betting odds can and do change.

• Devin Haney to win at 1/8 with BetUK
• Ryan Garcia to win at 11/2 with bet365
• Draw at 20/1 with Sky Bet

Best bookies for betting Devin Haney vs Ryan Garcia

Check my list below, where I have gathered the most generous odds for the Haney vs Garcia fight from the best UK boxing bookmakers. 

Devin Haney’s record

Haney will arrive at the Barclays Center boasting a great run of form. His professional boxing record stands at an impressive 31 fights unbeaten. The 25-year-old Californian has a perfect CV showing 15 KOs from his 31 career wins, resulting in an eye-catching 48% knockout average. 

Haney has the raw power and work rate to win this bout inside the distance, especially if opponent Garcia makes the mistake of thinking he can walk through shots to land his power punches. He’s not the biggest and most feared fighter on the pro boxing circuit, however.

The current keeper of the WBC World Super Lightweight title may possess power, but his last inside-the-distance win was in September 2019, when he stopped Zaur Abdullaev in four rounds at Madison Square Garden, New York. Since then, the fighter known as “The Dream” has faced eight opponents and beaten them all on the scorecards over 12 rounds.

We last saw 25-year-old Haney in action when beating the experienced Regis Prograis on a unanimous decision at the Chase Center in San Francisco. He beat a respected fighter by a comfortable margin, with the scorecards tallied in his favour by 120 points to 107 on all three cards, meaning he won every round of the dozen available. It was a landslide and another example of Haney’s skill at this level.

Ryan Garcia’s record

Garcia will walk toward the ring in Brooklyn with a record that’s not as impressive as the champion, but his CV shows he’s an elite-level operator and a fighter who belongs at this level. Ryan’s professional boxing record ahead of his eagerly anticipated fight with Haney stands at 24 wins against one defeat, with 20 knockout victories and that one reverse suffered inside the distance.

The one blot on Garcia’s record was inflicted by Gervonta Davis at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas almost exactly a year ago. That was undoubtedly the biggest challenge “King Ry” has faced in an eight-year professional boxing career, and there’s no getting away from the fact Garcia came up short. The 25-year-old Californian boxer was sent to the canvas in rounds two and seven before being saved from further punishment by a merciful referee in Thomas Taylor. 

Champions and great fighters aren’t defined by never losing but by how they respond to setbacks, and Garcia quickly returned to winning ways. He was last in action when beating Oscar Duarte Jurado inside eight rounds in a non-title fight late last year, a win that helped catapult him back into the title picture. Victory on Saturday would earn Garcia the WBC belt while proving he has put that crushing loss to Tank Davis behind him.

Haney vs Garcia betting tips and odds

Now that we know the recent form of both fighters and that Haney is the red-hot favourite in the pre-fight betting odds, let’s focus on the specials and offer my predictions. 

These are three areas where I think betting value is available. I focus on the more unique markets, avoiding fight-winner betting. Follow all three for small stakes, or choose your favourite and gamble at the bookmaker mentioned.

Fight to last the distance - 8/15 (bet365)

My first pick is aimed at boxing fans and bettors who prefer to play it safe and avoid predicting the winning fighter. Will this bout last the 12-round distance and test the scoring judges? I think so and believe the stats support my prediction. 

Each of Haney’s last eight have been won on the scorecards. Garcia hasn’t tested the judges in three bouts, but after being stopped in brutal fashion by Davis, he’s likely to be more reserved in this contest as he returns to the top table and an elite-level opponent.

🥊 Bet on the fight to last the distance at 8/15 with bet365🥊

Haney on points - 4/6 (bet365)

Fight fans and bettors looking to put their necks on the line and back Haney to win will find better odds in the method of victory market. Here, you must choose a winning fighter and predict how they’ll achieve the result, either by knockout or on points. Both predictions must come good for the bet to win.

I am sticking with the stats again when making my fight predictions and will back Haney to win on points for the ninth bout in a row. Garcia is a skilled fighter with good defence, a great engine, and a high boxing IQ. But he comes up against a better all-rounder and more talented fighter in Haney, who also boasts more experience in the championship rounds, which will make all the difference on Saturday evening in Brooklyn.

🥊 Bet on Haney on points at 4/6 with bet365🥊

Haney to score a knockdown - 13/8 (bet365)

THose working at the most famous online sportsbooks have a firm grasp of the value ahead of this potential fight-of-the-year contender. Odds makers believe this bout will follow the trends and result in a points win for Haney, offering generous odds to anyone who disagrees and wants to take them on. Unfortunately, I agree with that stance.

The more you dig around the betting markets, the more great bets and potential value you’ll find. I’ve already picked Haney to win over the three judges sitting at ringside, but expect some thrills and spills along the way. After seeing Garcia dumped on the seat of his pants twice against Davis, I’m happy to shoot for more of the same, backing Haney to score at least one knockdown at a nice price. Please note we’re backing a knockdown here as opposed to a knockout.

🥊 Bet on Haney to score a knockdown at 13/8 with bet365🥊

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How to bet on Devin Haney vs Ryan Garcia

Betting on Haney vs Garcia is quick, easy, and secure, as it is done using one of the major sportsbooks advertised on this page or across the website. Follow the steps below to place your bets now and secure the pre-fight value.

1. Choose your preferred bookie and click any link on this page.
2. Select Join and complete the registration form.
3. Create a username and password, then deposit £10 or more.
4. Select the boxing tab > Haney vs Garcia > and browse the betting.
5. Click the odds of your chosen pick to add to your bet slip.
6. Check the details, add a stake, and confirm.
7. Your bet will be live, and a cash-out amount will appear on your slip.

Who is the favourite to win, Haney or Garcia?

The betting odds on Haney vs. Garcia available at the top gambling apps make Devin a strong favourite to win. The 1/8 price tag means Haney has an implied probability of 88.9%, and boxing bettors know that’s as close to nailed on as you’ll see in a world title fight. He’s better than the -1000 favourite you see attached to many top fighters. Traders can’t see past the champion winning again and improving his unbeaten record. Garcia’s price is 11/2, which is an implied probability of just 15.4%. 

What’s the weight category of the Devin Haney vs Ryan Garcia fight?

This fight is for the WBC Super Lightweight title. That means both men must weigh no more than 140lbs at the official pre-fight weigh-in. They’ll then have more than 24 hours from the weigh-in and press conference to rehydrate and add strength and weight. 

It’s certain both Haney and Garcia will weigh considerably more than 140 pounds at the first bell, with Haney likely to be closer to 165 pounds with no restrictions put in place by the WBC.

Who has the more professional fights, Garcia or Haney?

Haney already has 31 professional fights on his CV and 210 rounds in the bank.

Garcia is less experienced on both counts, with his current record showing 25 fights and 100 rounds. 

With six more fights and more than double the rounds, Haney is, by far, the more experienced fighter of the two in the ring on Saturday evening.

Who has more wins in their professional career, Ryan Garcia or Devin Haney?

With more fights and more rounds, it’s no surprise to learn Haney also boasts more wins than Garcia ahead of this crunch title decider. Haney has seven more wins than Garcia.

Who has more KOs in their career, Haney or Garcia?

Despite being the less experienced fighter, Garcia has more knockout wins on his card than the champion. Ryan enters with 20 KO wins from 25 fights, whereas Haney has 15 stoppage wins from 31 bouts.

What’s on the line if Ryan Garcia wins?

If Ryan Garcia wins on Saturday, he will take the WBC Super Lightweight title from opponent Haney. It would also push “King Ry” into the top fighters in the division, ensuring he can look ahead to some blockbuster bouts this year, including the possibility of a rematch before the end of the summer and another defence before the year is over.

Are there any undercard fights that you should pay attention to?

Personally, I only have eyes for the main event, as the outcome of this bout will shape the short-term future of the division. But there are a few undercard bouts that serve as delicious appetisers before the main event, and they’re advertised on the fight poster. 

As is always the case with Oscar de la Hoya and his Golden Boy Promotions, a packed evening of boxing awaits.

How to watch the Haney vs Garcia match

• Date/Time: Sunday 21st April, 04:00 GMT
• Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
• TV/Streaming: Live on DAZN 

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