In the high-stakes world of boxing, pre-fight antics can be as crucial as the punches thrown in the ring. Did Ryan Garcia’s odd pre-fight behavior boost PPV sales as intended? He sure made headlines with his unusual tactics. Meanwhile, Oscar De La Hoya, his promoter, was betting big, predicting a sellout crowd and staggering PPV numbers reaching 1 million.
But what happens when the reality doesn’t match the hype? Recently, Ryan Garcia lashed out on X at a Gervonta Davis fan who claimed the fight’s PPV buys were far lower than expected. Could his fiery reply draw even more eyes, or might it backfire?
Were the antics of Ryan Garcia a failure?
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The drama unfolded on X, where a boxing fan Ray Jackson dropped a bombshell. “Breaking News: Devin Haney vs Ryan Garcia fight does between 200K-215K PPV buys #Boxing,” he tweeted. These numbers, if accurate, starkly contrast the pre-fight buzz and Oscar De La Hoya’s lofty predictions. Almost immediately, Ryan Garcia fired back with his characteristic bluntness. His response? “Shut the f**k up (crying emoji),” a mix of humor and irritation wrapped into one.
Shut the fuck up 😭😭
— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) April 23, 2024
Meanwhile, boxing promoter Bob Arum added fuel to the fire. He revealed that the PPV sales indeed fell short of expectations, aligning more with Jackson’s tweet than De La Hoya’s forecast. This confirmation from such a high-profile figure in the boxing world gives weight to the fan’s claims, making Garcia’s public outburst an intriguing focal point of the post-fight narrative.
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But Garcia himself talked about the PPV buys in the PBD Podcast.
Garcia hints at increased viewership
Ryan Garcia’s flair for drama isn’t just for show; it seems to play a crucial role in drawing the crowds. His pre-fight antics, which captured widespread attention, might have significantly boosted viewer interest. “I don’t know [if my antics helped the fight overall] but I think it brought more eyes to it,” Garcia admitted on the PBD Podcast.
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He also shared an eye-popping projection for his earnings, estimating a payday of “$30 to $50 million” for the fight. “No [they haven’t released the pay-per-view numbers yet]. But Oscar said that they are very good. Very good, yeah,” Garcia added, hinting at potentially high PPV sales despite the ongoing debate.
What do you think? Did Ryan Garcia’s pre-fight spectacle play a pivotal role in drawing viewers, or is the allure of the sport itself enough to pull in the numbers? Share your thoughts and join the conversation below.