Boxers prepare for fight with skirmish at Super Bowl 58 radio row
Boxing stars Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia used one of the largest promotional stages in sports to start the hype for their April 20 junior welterweight title bout in Las Vegas.
The fight was announced Thursday night.
Garcia was sitting down for an interview with the Review-Journal on Friday afternoon when he noticed Haney enter Super Bowl 58 radio row to start his own press tour.
Garcia, who is 24-1 and has a massive online fan base even greater than his talent, stepped away from the booth. A representative said he wanted to do a faceoff with his future opponent and would return momentarily.
The interview never happened. A vocal Garcia got in Haney’s face as a crowd formed around them. Garcia shoved Haney after words were exchanged.
The fighters were separated and Garcia was escorted out the door. Garcia declined to comment after the incident. Haney declined an interview request.
Garcia’s fight against Gervonta Davis in April, the lone loss of his career, generated more than $20 million in gate and over a million pay-per-view buys.
Haney, a Las Vegas resident, is 31-0 and one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world. This will be one of the biggest stages he has competed on as a professional.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.