Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Lampley blew out 75 candles April 8. The living legend of broadcast will once again be co-hosting a viewer chat during the PPV.COM live stream of next Saturday’s, April 20 (8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT) Haney vs Garcia WBC super lightweight world title scrap, so you could log on and wish Jim well.
The stream will be priced at $79.99, for the record.
HANEY vs. GARCIA PREVIEW ANALYSIS
“In the last four and a half years Devin Haney achieved dominant control of boxing’s 135-pound weight level, en route to becoming the undisputed World Lightweight Champion, with an impressive series of performances, in clear victories, over Yuriorkis Gamboa, Jorge Linares, Joseph Diaz, George Kambosos (twice) and Vasyl Lomachenko,” Lampley says of the 31-0 boxer.
“Every single one of those opponents can, through one filter or another, be seen to have a more meaningful background in the ring than Ryan Garcia, especially Lomachenko, who as both an amateur and a pro, was one of the landmark boxing craft talents of the past few decades,” Lampley continued. “In comparison to Garcia, Devin Haney has the more stable lifestyle, the far more impressive boxing resume, the greater proven focus, and the more visible motivation to work hard toward a lofty goal.”
Well stated by the North Carolina professor, who has been a welcome addition to the media mix this year, with his engagement with the PPV.com folks. He’s been impressed with recent Haney outings, like his handling of vet Regis Prograis.
And of the handsome hitter Ryan Garcia? “He is the livelier and more exotic social media figure, has the prettier face, and may possibly possess more one-punch power, particularly with his left hook,” Lampley says.
He continued: “Since the time when these two split six amateur fights 3-3, Haney, who last December moved up in weight to dethrone WBC super lightweight champion Regis Prograis, has gotten steadily better and steadily more focused, and Garcia has amassed huge numbers of social media followers and raised logical questions regarding his level of mental health.”
“What else do you need to know? The logical choice is Haney by quality unanimous decision,” says Lampley in closing. “It won’t be at all shocking if Haney wins 10, 11 or all 12 rounds. It WILL be shocking, to this observer, if Haney finds a way to lose.”