“He’s the Real Deal”: Robert Garcia Opens Up About the Fighter Who Is ‘Too Risky’ for Devin Haney

Most trainees who honed their skills under Robert Garcia agree that the master trainer redesigns fighters and turns them into world champions. The former IBF Junior Lightweight title holder received the ‘Trainer of the Year,’ award twice. Hence if he nods at a promising prospect, then it means that the latter has scaled the bar. He is now ready to stand in the cut-throat big game arena. Therefore, his views on one of the boxers who fought during the Devin Haney – Vasiliy Lomachenko main card come with a lot of forethought.

The May 20 fight night, besides fielding Devin Haney’s title defense, saw eight other bouts. Oscar Valdez fought Adam Lopez in a Super Featherweight bout on the main card. In the Lightweight division, Raymond Muratalla fought Jeremiah Nakathila for the vacant NABF and WBO Global Lightweight titles. Out of three matches, while two went to the decision, one, to the surprise of many, saw a second-round stoppage.

Robert Garcia has a new war-horse

The Namibian Nakathila returned after a gap of more than a year. With a knockout-to-win rate of 73%, the boxer who had pummeled former world champion Miguel Berchelt in March last year was expected to stretch the fight till the final bell against the younger American. However, Muratalla, who remains undefeated in eighteen fights, had other plans. With barely twenty seconds left in the second round, he bombarded the Namibian boxer with several powerful punches, convincing referee Robert Hoyle to stop the match.

For Nakathila, it is his first knockout defeat. But for Muratalla, it was his fifteenth knockout win, taking his knock-to-win rate to 83%. Much happy with Nakathila’s performance, Robert Garcia told ESNEWS, “He’s the real deal. He proved it.” However, as he ponders over the next course of action for ‘The Danger,’ Garcia, as much as he would like to believe that the latter is ready for some heavy-duty matches, may find it far-fetched to consider a clash with someone like Devin Haney.

He said it would be too much of a gamble for Haney to okay a fight with Raymond Muratalla at this stage. He continued, “Devin Haney won’t fight him because it’s too risky. It wouldn’t be a huge fight where you can make millions of pay-per-views. Haney won’t fight Raymond. He just won’t, but we’ll take the fight in a heartbeat.” For Muratalla, who fought twice during the last two months, there’s still a long way to go.

Read More: Andre Ward Laughs at Robert Garcia for Saying David Benavidez Would’ve Defeated Him in Prime

Do you agree with Robert Garcia’s assessment? Do share your views and thoughts with us in the comments below.

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