In a surprising turn of events, Devin Haney faced a majority decision defeat at the hands of Ryan Garcia on April 20. The combat sports community was caught off guard as ‘KingRy’ showcased his renowned speed and power at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. From the very first round, Garcia managed to hurt Haney, and he didn’t let up, delivering powerful strikes throughout the bout.
The fight proved to be a significant challenge for the WBC super lightweight champion, Haney, who was knocked down three times and visibly shaken on multiple occasions. This match marked the first loss in his career, dealt by a familiar adversary. After the fight, Garcia claimed that Haney had sustained a broken jaw during their confrontation. However, Haney soon addressed these claims in his first public statement post-defeat. He emphasized his resilience, stating, “Alhamdulillah Allah is the perfect planner he makes no mistakes. Fought like a true champion. Got up off the canvas & kept fighting. I am 100% ok and would love to do it again while we both make weight.” He further reassured his fans, “I have no broken anything by the way like I said I’m ok.”
The bout between Haney and Garcia was initially set to be a title fight for the WBC super lightweight championship. However, after Garcia failed to make weight by over three pounds, the fight was converted to a non-title event. Garcia’s behavior prior to the fight, both online and during press events, had already sparked controversy, casting doubt on whether the fight would proceed. Despite these issues and his admission of drinking nightly during the training camp, Garcia’s victory was all the more unexpected and impressive.
At the post-fight press conference, Garcia openly discussed his unorthodox preparation for the fight, revealing, “I walked through the fire, and still held it down. And still beat Devin Haney. And still drank every day. And still beat him. I did everything. What the f**k? False reality right? Drank every single night, went out on the first Monday and Tuesday and drank… Not necessarily am I proud of it, but I’m just saying.”
The aftermath of the fight has sparked discussions about a potential rematch between the two fighters. With the surprising outcome of their last encounter and the controversies that surrounded it, the question remains whether they should face each other in the ring once more. The public’s opinion on this matter is yet to be fully gauged, as the debate continues.
