via Imago
140827) — NANJING, Aug. 27, 2014 — Gold medalist Shakur Stevenson of the United States of America reacts during the awarding ceremony of men s fly (52kg) of boxing at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, east China s Jiangsu Province, Aug. 27, 2014. )(zc) (SP)YOG-CHINA-NANJING-BOXING ChenxCheng PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxCHN Nanjing Aug 27 2014 Gold medalist Shakur Stevenson of The United States of America reacts during The Awarding Ceremony of Men s Fly 52kg of Boxing AT The Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing East China s Jiangsu Province Aug 27 2014 ZC SP China Nanjing Boxing PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxCHN
via Imago
140827) — NANJING, Aug. 27, 2014 — Gold medalist Shakur Stevenson of the United States of America reacts during the awarding ceremony of men s fly (52kg) of boxing at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, east China s Jiangsu Province, Aug. 27, 2014. )(zc) (SP)YOG-CHINA-NANJING-BOXING ChenxCheng PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxCHN Nanjing Aug 27 2014 Gold medalist Shakur Stevenson of The United States of America reacts during The Awarding Ceremony of Men s Fly 52kg of Boxing AT The Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing East China s Jiangsu Province Aug 27 2014 ZC SP China Nanjing Boxing PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxCHN
Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia’s fight is just over a week away, but is there trouble brewing outside the ring? Reports indicate sluggish ticket sales for the April 20th matchup at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. This isn’t the first time lukewarm interest has plagued a Haney fight. Remember his December bout against Regis Prograis? That one was also a PPV disaster supposedly selling only around 50K PPVs.
Boxing fans hoping to witness the highly anticipated Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia fight may have to pay more this time. Ticket prices start around $144 but can soar past $20,000 for premium ringside seats. The prices also vary from website to website. Is the lack of excitement a result of the high ticket prices? Or is there something else at play? Shakur Stevenson, always active on Twitter, recently added fuel to the fire. What did he do?
Shakur Stevenson throws shade
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
My Mixtapez threw the first punch in the digital arena with a telling screenshot. Their post showcased a sea of unsold seats for the Garcia vs. Haney fight, captioned, “Haney vs. Garcia ticket sales are not looking good for their April 20th fight.” Not one to miss an opportunity, Shakur Stevenson, who fought and won last against Edwin De Los Santos in November last year, reposted this tweet.
The move added fuel to the fire, spotlighting the event’s struggling ticket sales. And fans were all for it, and all for criticizing Shakur Stevenson too.
Should’ve Gone to Vegas!
Firstly, a local fan expressed the high ticket prices deterred his immediate purchase. Living within a short distance from the Barclays Center, he’s playing the waiting game, hoping for a last-minute price drop, yet remains open to watching the fight on TV.
Too expensive. I don’t mind buying last minute to see how cheap the prices get. And I live 15 – 20 minutes from the Barclays. I also won’t mind watching it on TV. 🤷♂️
— StuttaSwagg (@MrBonilla) April 8, 2024
Secondly, another voice chimed in, critiquing the decision to host the fight in Brooklyn rather than Las Vegas. This fan believes that the iconic fight city could have offered a better backdrop, possibly improving sales.
Having it in Brooklyn as opposed to Las Vegas was a major miscalculation
— Matt (@WhoDey311) April 8, 2024
Then, directly addressing the promoters, a third reaction surfaced, calling for a drop in ticket prices. This plea to Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions highlights a shared frustration among fans over what they perceive as inaccessible pricing.
@OscarDeLaHoya @GoldenBoyBoxing @RyanGarcia when are you going to drop those prices?
— AndreH!mSelf (@AndreDecoteau) April 8, 2024
However, not all feedback was critical of the event’s management. One individual defended the fight’s allure, suggesting that even with current sales trends, the actual attendance could still surpass that of Shakur Stevenson’s last bout against Edwin De Los Santos.
@ShakurStevenson stop bro you settin ya self up. They could not sell a ticket nomore rn and they seats will still be more crowded than your last fights
— just a guy (@1ksBurner) April 8, 2024
Finally, another commenter took a swipe at Shakur Stevenson, suggesting that despite the ticket sales controversy, Garcia vs. Haney still promised more excitement than any of Stevenson’s recent fights. This mix of opinions paints a complex picture of fan expectations and the challenges facing big-ticket boxing events.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Still more exiting than shakur fights
— Jonathan barbosa (@JhonnybOrtiz) April 8, 2024
Even as some defended the potential of the event, others called for significant changes to make the fight more accessible to a broader audience.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Will these vocal fan reactions influence any last-minute changes to ticket pricing or promotions? Moreover, how do you think these discussions impact the fighters themselves, knowing the eyes of the boxing community are watching, waiting, and weighing in?
Also Read: Ryan Garcia Threatens To Slap Boxing Fan for Spreading Fake News About Devin Haney Fight Tickets
