Ryan Garcia Speaks Out Against Referee’s Controversial Decision in Haney Fight
The aftermath of Ryan Garcia’s triumph over Devin Haney on April 20th has been anything but quiet. Amidst celebrations, Garcia found himself embroiled in controversy over the referee’s handling of the bout. In a statement released shortly after the fight, Garcia expressed his frustration with the referee’s actions and the peculiar point deduction he incurred during the match.
The contentious moment occurred in the seventh round when Garcia had Haney visibly hurt and on the back foot. However, instead of allowing Garcia to capitalize on his momentum, referee Harvey Dock intervened, deducting a point from Garcia for punching Haney during a break. This decision baffled spectators and fans alike, with many questioning the referee’s judgment and accusing him of robbing Garcia of a potential knockout victory.
He said, “And the morning after guys. We did it. We did it, man.”
“At the end, man, I took on the Illuminati, I took on the ref and Devin Haney, and I cracked them all. Let’s go. God did. Jesus is king,” Garcia added.
In a video posted on TikTok, Garcia didn’t hold back his feelings, attributing his victory not only to his prowess in the ring but also to his ability to overcome what he perceived as external obstacles. “At the end, man, I took on the Illuminati, I took on the ref and Devin Haney, and I cracked them all. Let’s go. God did. Jesus is king,” Garcia proclaimed, emphasizing his belief in divine intervention amidst the chaos of the fight.
He said, “At the end of the day, Harvey Dock, I think he was tripping. He should have stopped that fight. It was bad. [Haney] was really hurt.”
The referee’s decision to deduct a point from Garcia without prior warning raised further eyebrows among fans and boxing pundits. Many argued that Dock’s actions were unwarranted, especially considering Haney’s visibly compromised state during the match. Garcia himself criticized Dock’s handling of the situation, suggesting that the fight should have been stopped given Haney’s evident distress.
“That was crazy. I never seen some s*** like that. He was holding him, and I [punched] him, and he was hurt, and I was like, ‘Yes! Done! Oh, point taken?’”
Speaking at the post-fight conference, Garcia didn’t mince his words when discussing the referee’s performance. “At the end of the day, Harvey Dock, I think he was tripping. He should have stopped that fight. It was bad. [Haney] was really hurt,” Garcia asserted, echoing the sentiments of many who felt that Dock’s intervention was unnecessary and potentially detrimental to the integrity of the bout.
Despite the controversy surrounding the referee’s decision, Garcia emerged victorious, solidifying his status as a rising star in the boxing world. As discussions continue about the possibility of a rematch between Garcia and Haney, the fallout from the contentious point deduction serves as a reminder of the unpredictability and drama that often accompany high-stakes boxing matches.
