Former Foe Jorge Linares Says Added Weight Favors Devin Haney’s KO Chances

For several reasons, Devin Haney is a comfortable -900 betting favorite to defeat Ryan Garcia on Saturday in their 140-pound title fight at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Among the questions that hover – especially to those who have found Garcia’s training camp behavior strange and unprofessional – is this: Can Haney finish him?

The odds on that are less favorable, with the proposition bet of a Haney victory by knockout or TKO stoppage posted as a slight +150 underdog.

“Haney moving from 135 [pounds] to 140 is the best decision, because he can now have better power,” former lightweight world titleholder Jorge Linares said as a special guest Wednesday on ProBox TV’s “Deep Waters.”

Linares, who reigned as lightweight titleholder from 2014-2018, fought Haney in 2021 and went the distance with the then-22-year-old in his first title bout.

Memorably in that fight, Linares rocked Haney in the 11th round with a hard right hand to the chin that left Haney on unsteady feet as he retreated to his corner.

In the 12th, Haney was smartly hanging on to Linares for dear life, and he claimed a unanimous decision triumph (116-112, 115-113, 116-112).

“I remember when I was fighting Haney, I didn’t feel his punches … I didn’t think [he] had a good punch,” Linares said. “After, I understood why. He [lost] too much weight to make 135. The next day [after rehydrating following the weigh-in], he was 154 pounds. That’s a lot.”

Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) hasn’t stopped an opponent since 2019. And in this bout, against the immensely popular social media influencer Garcia – who drew 1.2 million buys with Gervonta “Tank” Davis in their title bout last year – Haney has the potential to lift his brand and become a bona fide pay-per-view draw.

“Now, he’s made the best decision to be at 140,” said Linares, who added that a knockout by Haney would be the best form of marketing.

Haney proceeded from the Linares victory to become an undisputed lightweight champion and claimed a narrow triumph over Vasiliy Lomachenko on the scorecards before moving up to 140 and capturing a belt with a scintillating showing against New Orleans’ rugged Regis Prograis in December.

“So how much [weight] can he add after the weigh-in?” Linares wondered of Haney.

“We don’t know. Fifteen pounds? Twenty pounds? He [will carry] more power in his punch with the added weight” and avoid the intense cut to make weight.

Linares said Haney’s choice of gloves and wrapping his hands effectively can ensure the most effective power punches, and he was impressed with the heavy shots he landed on Prograis to discourage the former 140-pound titleholder.

“[Haney] doesn’t have a 100 percent good [power] punch – maybe 60-70 percent,” Linares said. “But if this is his best weight, he can be stronger.”