What’s at stake when Ryan Garcia clashes with Devin Haney on April 20? Isn’t it the careers of the two that will take a new turn? It seems there is more to the gigantic event at Barclays Center than the crafty promotion and the allure of the gold. Is it the rising concern about the challenger’s mental health? That’s not it. There is more to unfold.

None of the parties involved can afford to bear the consequences if the scheduled fight is called off. The ripple effect will be enormous, be it the fighters or the promoters. It all started with the shenanigans and trolling that ‘KingRy’ pulled off at the New York press conference last month on February 27. The fans have been worried about the mental health of Garcia, as the latter has relentlessly pulled off antics to gain psychological advantage. However, it raises the question of what happens if the 25-year-old fails to show up. Well, undoubtedly, it’s the pro-career of ‘The Dream’ and him that would have taken a hit. The dire effects don’t stop there.

Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney: Careers and brand value at stake

Why does Garcia, at 24-1, need Haney? Legitimacy. After getting knocked out by Gervonta Davis last April, Garcia’s stocks plummeted. He soon picked those up as he defeated Oscar Duarte and positioned himself as a title contender at 140. While he could challenge Rolando Romero for the strap, a win against him wouldn’t have established him as a true champion. The fans would have questioned the credentials of Garcia, and here you insert Haney, and it works out for him.

Better resume? Check. Improved image as a boxer? Check. Garcia can cement himself as a boxer. But his theatrics ensured that if he pulled out of the fight, neither the fans would accept him nor the promoters would give him leverage on the negotiation table. The Victorville native’s reputation will be tarnished forever.

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Meanwhile, Haney, at 31-0, needs Garcia more than he shows. He desperately needs a big name to put on a PPV blockbuster, as his not-so-fan-friendly style has put a dent in his PPV-selling ability. Moreover, the recent reports of him selling only 50, 000 PPVs against Regis Prograis have put his image as a popular fighter in jeopardy. While he possesses skills and boxing prowess, he has yet to become a household name in the boxing community. The WBC champion can rack up good PPV numbers if the fight with Garcia goes through, as the latter pulled off 1.1 million buys when he fought ‘Tank’. As such, you could argue the fight will do well on PPV numbers and boost Haney’s popularity.

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Therefore, both boxers not only lose the chance to solidify their claim as the next face of boxing but also take a hit to their ambitions and brand image if the fight falls off. They won’t be the only losers, as, at the end of the day, boxing is a business.

A promoter and sanctioning body’s nightmare: all about money

Undoubtedly, Haney vs. Garcia is set to do good business. All thanks to the buzz that Garcia has generated for the fight already and his long social media following. The management, promoters, and people around both fighters would benefit from the money the event is about to amass. Additionally, if the event meets an unfortunate end because of the promoter’s undoing, they will leave themselves open to legal action by both fighters’ camps.

It’s no wonder you hear Oscar De La Hoya throwing his support behind Garcia and backing his trolling. The former boxer-turned-promoter has clarified that his cash cow would fight. For him, Garcia was looking up to the task and fit in the gym. Otherwise, he would have to say goodbye to a heavy paycheck. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has also been keeping tabs on Garcia for the same reason. Markedly, fighters pay a percentage of their fight purse to the sanctioning body to fight for the title.

Everyone involved has a stake in the fight, a deep one too. They stand to gain plenty if the fight goes through. They stand to lose plenty if the action doesn’t go down.

What do you make of this upcoming bout between Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney? Do you believe the fight should take place irrespective of concerns about Garcia’s mental health? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Devin Haney Warns About Ryan Garcia’s Trolling Tactics, Requests To Stop Paying Attention Following KingRy’s Weird Clip With Cryptic Message