So the first of the two-city press conferences to kick off the Ryan Garcia–Devin Haney fight concluded sometime ago. The duo will slug it out on April 20 at New York’s Barclays Center for the WBC light welterweight title, currently held by Haney. The meet-up didn’t disappoint those looking for a fiery exchange. But then the event also held up to moments of delight. Seemingly, Garcia and Bernard Hopkins patched things up among themselves.
Bill Haney was present at the site. As usual, he had accompanied his son through the whole presser. Later, he made some time to deliver a parting shot for Team Garcia. He warned ‘KingRy’ about the tempest he was about to face. But, in parallel, Haney Senior didn’t flinch from taking a dig at the new-found bonhomie between the latter and ‘B-Hop’ either.
The renewed friendship between Ryan Garcia and Bernard Hopkins under scrutiny
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Firing a salvo, Devin Haney’s father urged Bernard Hopkins to teach the young apprentice ‘shoulder roll’. He said, “You know, special uh uh takeaway shot to Bernard and…Ryan but I’m glad they made up, so take him…Bernard and show him that shoulder roll.”. Incidentally, if fans might remember, Garcia used the technique briefly during the fight with Oscar Duarte on December 2. It’s a different matter, though it came under criticism from several corners.
Finally, adding Floyd Mayweather Jr., he quoted a famous line from legend Jay-Z. For whatever effort they put in, it isn’t going to be their day on April 20. Bill Haney said, “Bernard Floyd Ryan, all y’all get together ain’t none of that sh*t going to help on 4/20; it’s lit and everybody’s in it, and y’all going to pay for all the sh*t like Jay-Z says, ‘from all them years that you hold us’ yeah, you going to pay 4/20 is smoke, and we ain’t letting up.”
Earlier, Bill Haney hinted at the signs of things to come. He called out Ryan Garcia directly.
Wake-Up Call ‘KingRy’: Bill Haney
Exhorting the young boxer to reconsider if the pressure to fight Devin Haney was too much for him, he said. “This is a message to Ryan: if it gets too tough, take a knee. It’s only 30 minutes—36 minutes of beating. Of course, it’s easier for me to say cuz you the one that got to take it. You talked all the sh*t that you talked, and now you got to pay for it.”
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Later, Haney Senior shared his appreciation for Oscar De La Hoya. Notably, he seems impressed by the latter’s role in getting the fight back on track.
Things reportedly went south between Ryan Garcia and Oscar De La Hoya after the Gervonta Davis (now Abdul Wahid) fight. Eventually, it even led to the promoter filing a lawsuit against the boxer. But then the conflict reared its head again last December. Especially, both Hopkins and Garcia grabbed major headlines for a much-publicized discord during the days leading to the Oscar Duarte fight.
Read More: Bill Haney Breaks Silence on Ryan Garcia Contesting New York Venue
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Taking up the point Bill Haney raised, do you foresee Ryan Garcia resorting to the ‘Philly Roll’ in the Devin Haney fight as he did during the Oscar Duarte bout?