The aftermath of the Haney vs. Garcia fight on April 20th sparked a debate over the actual PPV numbers generated by the event. Bill Haney, Devin Haney’s father and trainer, defended the fight’s performance in terms of PPV buys. He claimed that their fight exceeded all other events of the year in terms of PPV buys, despite not having official numbers to back up his statement.
Leading up to the fight, there were high expectations that the Haney-Garcia bout would reach the one million PPV buy mark. This optimism was fueled by Ryan Garcia’s massive following on Instagram, boasting 12 million followers, and Devin Haney’s recent success in capturing world titles in two weight classes. However, the actual numbers did not meet these lofty projections.
Bill Haney dismissed the notion that the fight was a commercial failure, emphasizing that it outperformed all other events in terms of PPV buys. He questioned the basis for the criticism surrounding Devin Haney’s ability to sell fights, pointing to the event’s success in pulling in viewers. Despite not having official numbers to confirm this, Bill Haney stood by his claim.
On the other hand, Ryan Garcia’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, expressed disappointment in Haney’s celebration following the fight. De La Hoya criticized Haney for seemingly reveling in having his loss erased due to a PED settlement, labeling it as “pathetic”. This added another layer of controversy to the post-fight discourse.
Social media played a significant role in shaping public opinion on the PPV numbers for the Haney-Garcia bout. Many fans attributed the event’s success to Ryan Garcia’s popularity, rather than Devin Haney’s star power. There was a sense that Haney may have inadvertently undermined interest in the fight by making disparaging remarks about Garcia, thereby potentially alienating potential viewers.
In hindsight, it is evident that the narrative surrounding the Haney-Garcia PPV numbers is complex and multi-faceted. While Bill Haney staunchly defended the event’s performance, there remains a discrepancy between perception and reality. Moving forward, it would be prudent for all parties involved to carefully consider their public statements and actions to ensure that future events are not overshadowed by controversy or miscommunication. Ultimately, the truth behind the PPV numbers may never be fully known, but the lessons learned from this experience can serve as a valuable guide for future endeavors in the world of boxing.