Bernard Hopkins believes that Saturday’s fight between Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia could spark a boxing sensation in New York.
At the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Haney, one of the best boxers in the world, will fight for the WBC super lightweight title against Garcia, one of the most famous boxers in the world.
Although Haney is from Oakland and lives in Las Vegas, while Garcia moved to Texas from Los Angeles, they fight on the East Coast.
Ten months earlier, in the same city, Teofimo Lopez – the biggest threat to Haney’s reign as world heavyweight champion – beat Josh Taylor at Madison Square Garden. But in recent years, Katie Taylor-Amanda Serrano and Anthony Joshua-Andy Ruiz represent the only high-profile fights out there. The peak of Hopkins’ career came in 2001 in New York, when he defeated Felix Trinidad under him. More than 20 years on, Night in the Garden is still considered one of the most memorable nights of modern life – but fighters like Miguel Cotto and Gennady Golovkin have managed to defend New York has played an important role in his mission to fight their journey, their retirement has contributed to the migration.
In fact, Haney talked about his first fight in the city since 2019, and Hopkins, who is very influential in Golden Boy Promotions (which is handling Saturday’s fight), promised more will come.
Hopkins: Haney-Garcia Can Start New Chapter For Boxing In New York https://t.co/5PDORrYvKR
— BoxingScene.com (@boxingscene) April 19, 2024
“He was down a little bit,” Hopkins said. ——This is not the first time, nor will it be the last. But coming here today to watch a battle with drama like this is worth the wait.
– Both from the West, and [here] – no advantage in terms of home field advantage. Boxing is a sport, if you have fans all over the world, you can fight anywhere you like with one mind and a united mind. New York was mentioned with the Barclays Building – and, of course, Madison Square Garden.
– Oscar (De La Hoya, from Golden Boy) fought at Madison Square Garden in New York, I fought Tito Trinidad, – 01. I’m glad we’re here. I’m glad it’s on the east coast because it’s been quiet for the last few years.
– There is a lot of talent in New York and the East Coast. Even as far as the tri-state area and Philadelphia. You need to shoot the hand like this to make things work. Even Atlantic City—that’s our Vegas. That’s East Coast Vegas. Our Las Vegas was Atlantic City, with Mike Tyson, George Foreman, [Evander] Holyfield and me. We have the Eastern drumming now, you know the drumming, you can hear the drift.
Hopkins, one of the best players to come out of Philadelphia, may also be aware of Golden Boy’s opportunity to expand its presence on the East Coast, as Top Competition remains. Rank as the most powerful promoter in the West.
“[Boxing in New York] is very, very special,” Hopkins said ahead of the fight between Haney and Garcia, 25 and 3-3. “You want a fair fight, and the Golden Boy” wants a fair fight and big fights in the Middle East and everywhere. That’s why we’re here.
“New York is really tough on taxes and things like that, but if they know there’s going to be a lot of controversy, then they can do business.”
