Ryan Garcia’s upset win over Devin Haney this past Saturday shook the boxing world. It wasn’t simply that Garcia beat a fighter who went into the ring as a pound-for-pound elite, however that Garcia had actually invested months showing unusual habits, relatively more worried with drinking, partying and utilizing his huge social networks reach to promote a list of conspiracy theories.
Garcia’s habits triggered most hardcore fans and boxing media to additional cross out his possibilities of being competitive against a technical master like Haney. Still, there was a sticking around concern: What if it was all a giant task by a kid raised on the web?
After Garcia knocked Haney down 3 times en path to a bulk choice, Garcia declared he had, in reality, been trolling the world the whole time … sort of.
“Come on, guys, you truly believed I was insane?” Garcia stated in the ring after his win, before circling around back to supporting his conspiracy theories about the Illuminati hurting kids.
Garcia then verified he had actually been consuming alcohol throughout his whole training school while likewise declaring it is “difficult” for him to fight at 140 pounds moving forward. Garcia had actually missed out on the 140-pound weight limitation for the Haney fight, costing him his chance to end up being WBC champ while doing so. He likewise consistently stated he had actually stayed obese to offer himself a benefit in the fight.
Garcia has actually considering that doubled down on his declarations that his pre-fight shenanigans were simply an act.
“We have it pre-recorded, months back,” Garcia stated throughout a look on the PBD Podcast. “What did I state was gonna take place? I stated, ‘I’m ready to ensure everyone believes I’m gonna go bananas. I’mma do this, I’mma do that.’ Watch, it’s gonna be called the ‘excellent escape.’ Like, I have everything recorded. I was currently preparing it weeks and months behind.
“I do not understand what made me create the concept, truthfully. One day I simply chosen to simply go all in, and simply dedicate to the strategy that I had, and I was not gonna budge for no one. I was imitating, erratic. Like simply insane. Faces, I would do this with my nose (scrunch), and after that I’d resemble, ‘It’s simply a tick.’ I had whatever.”
Garcia did reiterate that he had actually been consuming throughout camp, stating he did so since he likes to.
Garcia’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, verified Garcia’s claim that he would not be combating at 140 pounds moving forward, however likewise appeared to recommend that Garcia likewise was not totally going up to the welterweight limitation of 147 pounds.
“Whoever wishes to fight Ryan, yeah, he feels comfy at 144,” De La Hoya informed Fight Hub TELEVISION. “Obviously ultimately he wishes to opt for a title at 147, so we’ll cross that bridge when we arrive. But, yeah, whoever desires any smoke come speak with me and we’ll make it take place, 144.”
Despite being among the most significant stars in boxing, Garcia has actually still not defended a world champion. Had he not been consuming through camp, he might not have actually discovered making weight “difficult” for the Haney fight. But cutting those additional 3 pounds likewise might have altered how the fight played out.
Ultimately, we’ll never ever understand, and if Haney desires the rematch, Garcia and De La Hoya both state Haney would require to come up in weight to do so. Same with a possible rematch with Gervonta “Tank” Davis, who dropped Garcia two times and completed him with a body shot in Round 7.
Garcia has actually even been on social networks recommending battles with previous unified welterweight champ Errol Spence Jr., WBC and WBO 154-pound champ Sebastian Fundora, previous WBA 140-pound champ Rolando Romero, and the male who beat Romero for the title, Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz.
So, what is next for Garcia? He and De La Hoya both recommended a formerly teased, though most likely impractical, fight with UFC bantamweight champ Sean O’Malley would be fascinating.
“I have not even studied what the next action is,” De La Hoya stated. “Normally I’m ready or this and that, however I believe there’s a lot of chances out there. I even heard Ryan stating perhaps a crossover fight with Sean O’Malley. I believe we need to perhaps work things out with Dana however I have no issue with that.”
