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Boxing

Eddie Hearn: Why is Ryan Garcia ducking Devin Haney?

Alexander Netherton
Eddie Hearn: Why is Ryan Garcia ducking Devin Haney?DAZN
The Matchroom promoter believes Garcia may be avoiding a challenge with the champion.

Eddie Hearn cannot understand why Ryan Garcia is not stepping up for a fight with Devin Haney and believes the Californian fighter may be told to fight Javier Fortuna if there are further delays.

Haney holds the WBC championship belt and Garcia earned his position as the 22-year-old’s mandatory challenger by defeating Briton Luke Campbell in January earlier this year.

The WBC is yet to mandate a fight between the pair meaning that Garcia is yet to have his hand forced over a decision. Matchroom promoter Hearn cannot understand why the fight has yet to be made.

Speaking to BoxingScene.com, Hearn explained: “I think [the WBC] may order Garcia-[Javier] Fortuna because Garcia is supposed to fight Devin Haney.

“So, it’s so f—ing bizarre. There’s loads of money for that fight [Haney-Garcia]. DAZN would f—ing love it. But he wants money, Garcia, so why not fight Haney?”

Garcia has instead announced a fight with Manny Pacquiao, but there are so many details to be confirmed over the bout that many people now doubt it will come to pass.

In the lightweight division, Garcia has also agreed to take on Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, the WBA lightweight champion, but no date has been confirmed.

Hearn believes there is a reason for Garcia to be ducking a challenge with Haney.

“Obviously, they know something,” Hearn said, “whether it’s the past, whether it’s fighting in the amateurs or they just don’t think they beat him. Because let’s be honest, if they thought they’d beat him, they’d fight him. But it’s not hard to come to that conclusion, is it?”