Lucas Jones
Ryan Garcia’s upset victory over Devin Haney last Saturday shook the boxing world. It wasn’t just because Garcia beat a fighter who entered the ring as a pound-for-pound elite, but also because Garcia spent months exhibiting bizarre behavior, seemingly more concerned with drinking, partying and using his enormous social media reach to promote a litany of Conspiracy theories.
Garcia’s behavior caused most of boxing’s most dedicated fans and media to further dismiss his chances of being competitive against a master technician like Haney. Still, there was a lingering question: What if it was all a troll job done by a kid raised on the internet?
After Garcia dropped Haney three times en route to a majority decision, Garcia claimed he was, in fact, trolling the world all the time… more or less.
“Come on guys, did you really think I was crazy?” Garcia said in the ring after his win, before going back to supporting his conspiracy theories about the Illuminati harming children.
Garcia then confirmed that he drank alcohol throughout training camp, while also stating that it is “impossible” for him to fight at 140 pounds moving forward. Garcia had missed the 140-pound weight limit for the fight against Haney, costing him the opportunity to become WBC champion in the process. He also repeatedly said he remained overweight to give himself an advantage in the fight.
Garcia has since doubled down on his statements that his pre-fight antics were just an act.
“We have this pre-recorded, months ago,” Garcia said during an appearance on the PBD Podcast. “What did I say was going to happen? I said, ‘I’m about to make sure everyone thinks I’m going to go crazy. I’m going to do this, I’m going to do that.’ Note, this will be called the ‘great escape.’ Like, I have everything documented and was already planning weeks and months behind schedule.
“I don’t know what made me come up with this idea, honestly. One day I decided to go all in and commit to the plan I had, and I wouldn’t give in for anyone. like, sporadic. Like, crazy. Guys, I would do this with my (smashed) nose and then say, ‘It’s just a tick.’ I had everything.”
Garcia again said he drank during camp, saying he did it because he likes it.
Garcia’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, confirmed Garcia’s claim that he would not fight at 140 pounds going forward, but also seemed to suggest that Garcia was not fully moving up to the 147-pound welterweight limit either.
“Whoever wants to fight Ryan, yes, he feels comfortable at 144”, De La Hoya told Fight Hub TV. “Obviously, eventually he wants to go for the title at 147, so we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. But, yes, anyone who wants to smoke, come talk to me and we will make it happen, 144.”
Despite being one of boxing’s biggest stars, Garcia has yet to fight for a world championship. If he hadn’t been drinking during camp, he might not have found making weight “impossible” for the fight against Haney. But cutting the extra three kilos could also have changed the course of the fight.
Ultimately, we’ll never know, and if Haney wants the rematch, Garcia and De La Hoya say Haney would need to gain weight to do so. The same goes for a possible rematch with Gervonta “Tank” Davis, who knocked Garcia down twice and finished him with a body shot in the seventh round.
Garcia has even been on social media suggesting fights with former unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr., WBC and WBO 154-pound champion Sebastian Fundora, former WBA 140-pound champion Rolando Romero and the man who defeated Romero by title, Isaac “Pitbull”Cruz.
So what’s next for Garcia? He and De La Hoya suggested that a previously teased, though likely unrealistic, fight with UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley would be interesting.
“I haven’t even studied what the next step will be,” said De La Hoya. “Normally I’m prepared or this and that, but I think there’s so many opportunities out there. I even heard Ryan saying maybe a crossover fight with Sean O’Malley. I think we might have to work things out with Dana, but I have no problem. therefore.”
