Ryan Garcia has shocked the boxing world by coming in a hefty 3.2 pounds (1.45kg) over the super lightweight limit for his much-anticipated world title clash with undefeated Devin Haney. This adds another layer of controversy to an already tumultuous lead-up to the bout.
Following his behind-the-scenes failure to make weight, Garcia made a spectacle at the ceremonial weigh-ins by chugging what he claimed to be apple juice and sparkling water, though rumors swirled that it was beer. He then took to social media to suggest that his weight miss was intentional, stating, “I feel great and I got a 3-pound advantage. Winners do what they have to do, I’m still sharp.”
Last-minute negotiations salvaged the fight, but Haney’s WBC world title belt will no longer be up for grabs. Instead, if Garcia loses, the belt will be declared vacant.
In the buildup to the weigh-ins, Haney had repeatedly taunted Garcia, predicting he would fail to make weight. Garcia, who had previously fought Oscar Duarte at 143 pounds despite the initial 140-pound agreement, took bait during the final press conference, agreeing to pay $500,000 USD for every pound he was over the limit. Haney confirmed Garcia’s payment of $1.5 million, tweeting, “Ryan honored the 500k per pound.”
Addressing the crowd amid boos, Garcia defended his efforts to make weight, stating, “I did my best to make this weight. I put myself through hell.” Despite the penalty, Garcia nonchalantly remarked, “I had to give up $1.5 million but that’s light work for me.”
Garcia will also surrender an undisclosed portion of his purse to Haney as part of the eleventh-hour negotiations to ensure the fight proceeds.
The lead-up to the highly-anticipated bout has been marred by Garcia’s peculiar behavior, sparking concerns about his mental well-being and prompting calls, even from his own family, for the fight to be called off. Garcia’s recent social media activity, including controversial statements about aliens, Tupac’s murder, and human trafficking, has only fueled these concerns.
