Ryan Garcia to Pay Haney $1.5 Million For Missing Weight
The reaction to the news of Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) missing weight for his April 20 battle with the reigning WBC junior welterweight champion Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) has been swift and quite harsh. It’s the latest in a series of events, making this upcoming contest full of controversy, drama, and chaos.
At an April 19 morning weigh-in, Garcia weighed 143.2 pounds, more than three pounds over the 140-pound junior welterweight limit. Before the weigh-in, Haney and Garcia had a handshake bet that Garcia would have to pay $500,000 per pound, if he were to miss weight.
Following the weigh-in, Golden Boy said the fight would continue as scheduled in a released statement. They also said that Garcia would honor his side of the bet. Sadly, his missing weight is not surprising to many boxing insiders.
PROBLEMATIC SIGNS TO SAY THE LEAST
Garcia’s antics and erratic behavior throughout the lead-up have been head-scratching and disturbing. On social media, he’s suggested using cocaine and went on a rant about the Illuminati. He took a shot at the reigning unified welterweight champion, Terence Crawford. Then there were the profane-laden and sexually suggestive outbursts directed at Haney during the final news conference on April 18.
While Garcia claimed that his actions were him trolling, many in the boxing community expressed concerns for the 25-year-old native of Los Angeles, California. Previously, Garcia has talked about his struggles with mental health. His recent behavior suggests someone who has lost control and needs some help.
Ticket sales for Haney versus Garcia have been poor due in large part to the conduct of the latter. A segment of the hardcore boxing base was losing interest in the matchup. This latest news will cause more boxing enthusiasts to exit stage-left from an event that’s been a fiasco from the very beginning.
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