Devin Haney has seen upcoming opponent Ryan Garcia show interest in a fight with Sean O’Malley — even in the UFC — and when asked if Garcia would have a chance in the octagon with O’Malley, Haney answered quick and honestly.
“F*** no,” Haney said on The MMA Hour.
Haney and Garcia will fight in the boxing ring April 20 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in a highly anticipated matchup.
With Haney confidently picking O’Malley in an MMA fight, he would pick Garcia with the same confidence should he face the UFC bantamweight champion in the squared circle.
“Sean is MMA, that’s where he’d dominate, Ryan is boxing, he’d dominate in boxing,” Haney said.
Haney was asked about his opponent’s social media beef with O’Malley and that boxing pundits might think Garcia’s eyes may not be on the prize. For the undefeated 25-year-old, he doesn’t care which version shows up in April, but he expects the best Garcia to step into the ring with him.
“If he’s f***** up mentally, he’s f***** up mentally,” Haney said of Garcia. “If he’s playing mind games, tricks, antics… you’ve got to remember this guy’s an actor, a TikToker. He’s a YouTuber, I don’t take him serious.”
The question was also asked to Haney about an on-the-books MMA vs. boxing matchup, with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou taking on Anthony Joshua March 8 in Saudi Arabia.
Haney admits he, perhaps, didn’t give Ngannou enough credit heading into his boxing debut against Tyson Fury — where Fury squeaked out a decision victory. This time around, Haney is giving Ngannou his proper respect, but he still doesn’t think the now PFL fighter will get the win, but nothing would be surprising.
“The heavyweight division is just different,” Haney said. “[Ngannou] is a freak. [Dropped Fury with] one punch.
“I think he has that neutralizer, I think he’s very strong, he’s literally a freak. You can’t count him out, but I do think A.J. is going to win, yes, but [Ngannou] is just not somebody you can count out.”
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