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Ryan Garcia made quite the entrance at his press conference on Thursday, riding in on a horse. However, if he were to be knocked off that horse, a replacement opponent is already on standby to face Devin Haney.
Garcia has been making headlines for more than just his grand entrances. He has been calling for a change in the location of his upcoming fight, from New York to Las Vegas, and has been open about his use of alcohol and marijuana. This behavior has led WBC super lightweight titleholder Haney to joke that Garcia might retire before the fight even happens.
These unpredictable moves have prompted Golden Boy Promotions to prepare a backup plan in case Garcia is unable to compete on April 20 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Super lightweight contender Arnold Barboza Jr. (29-0, 11 KOs) has been named as the co-main event and has been designated as the backup fighter.
Barboza expressed his readiness, stating,
"I’m in the co-main event, and I’m standing by as well. That’s why we haven't announced our opponent yet because there could be a big possibility that Ryan doesn’t get his s*** together and we step up and fight Haney."
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Garcia, Barboza remains focused on his own fight and his future in the division. He believes Garcia may be biting off more than he can chew against Haney, a former undisputed lightweight champion with an impressive record.
Barboza, a 32-year-old Los Angeles native, signed with Golden Boy in November and is eager to make a statement in his fight. He scored an eighth-round stoppage against Xolisani Ndongeni in January and is looking to continue his winning streak.