Friday, April 19
BoxingScene was interviewing Matchroom’s new signing, Jarron Boots Ennis, when the shocking news came out that Ryan Garcia had weighed in.
Another “special” fight is the “heavyweight” on Friday evening at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, and Garcia will face Devin Haney on Saturday. It will be closed immediately.
At Thursday’s final press conference, BoxingScene asked to be allowed to attend a single weigh-in for the first time due to Garcia’s apparent inability to make the weight cut. Unsurprisingly, representatives of Golden Boy Promotions, the promoter of Garcia’s fight on Saturday, did not deny it, insisting that the most unlikely person to make the weight is Haney, the WBC super lightweight champion, and Garcia was no longer victorious.
Garcia appeared in the welterweight division in Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s fights, where he was shirtless and unable to make it to 140 pounds. In contrast to his fight against Gervonta “Tank” Davis in April 2023, 24 hours prior to the 136-pound weigh-in, his cheeks sunken, he slowly licked his lips—Signal he is trying to gain weight. .
BoxingScene learned Friday morning that Garcia lost 11 pounds Thursday night. But hours later, he agreed to a bet with Haney, paying him $500,000 a pound because he was overweight. Both fighters reported a $1,500,000 cash prize, but it turns out Garcia, who weighs 143.2 pounds, was paid $600,000.
All provide a disturbing new perspective on Garcia’s mind. His skepticism, quick thinking, and no doubt his pride led him to accept a bet that he knew would cost him dearly. Apparently, he wasn’t trying to get down to 140 pounds and decided to get down to just 143 pounds on weigh-in night. By Friday’s stress, he was wild beyond the hyperactive state he’d been in all week – and if he’d been healthy, he’d lost his energy and tiredness before. when he got to the ring.
Devin Haney-Ryan Garcia Fight Week Diary: Day Four https://t.co/1Vz9oGKVc8
— BoxingScene.com (@boxingscene) April 20, 2024
Garcia’s legendary trainer, Derrick James, declined all interview requests from BoxingScene. Golden Boy Promotions man Oscar De La Hoya kept his Hollywood smile, just like Garcia when he was healthy, insisting there was nothing to see. Officials with the New York Athletic Commission could not be reached for comment.
Haney, like the 25-year-old Garcia, is struggling to get down to 140-pounds, but when you compare him to his old rival, you can see a picture of a very good figure. James spent weeks trying to intervene, but for reasons known only to himself, he never did. However, “Golden Boy” Garcia is not the most famous fighter with the promotion’s greatest demand, but the one who has been fighting him for a long time, and is about to leave when the agreement is reached. of promotion. that’s right – it seems like a crime to give up health for one’s own money.
