WHO’S CRAZY NOW?
The eight-week Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia saga ended with the unexpected hand being raised, leaving the boxing world open-mouthed and goggle-eyed.
The 36 minutes that unfolded in Brooklyn would, to the unschooled eye, present the idea that it was Haney who had spent his training camp wilfully wayward and refractory.
That is because he seemingly entered the ring on Saturday evening without much of a plan to extinguish Garcia’s most dangerous weapon, his left hook.
It barely took a minute for that weapon to fire accurately too, and the opening stanza had Haney wobbling for the first time since his victory over Jorge Linares back in May 2021.
Three years ago, it was Linares’ right hand that had Haney in retreat, but one thing it didn’t do was sink the two-weight world champion to canvas level. Garcia, however, did exactly that.
Haney’s three trips to the canvas were in rounds seven, 11 and 12, with his swollen face reading one of disbelief as well as discomfort each and every time he was floored.
It was unfamiliar waters, and Haney came equipped with little more than a pool noodle.
You can’t deny the heart in the still-WBC champion, who rose and stepped towards the fire on each occasion, something his boxing expertise had meant he hadn’t needed to do before.
I do wonder whether Haney and team were complacent on account of Garcia’s erratic behaviour over the last eight weeks, and that fight night was a complete and utter shock.
‘Who’s crazy now?!’ blurted Garcia, as he stood in the ring as winner.
I think I’ll have to put my hand up for this one, after myself disregarding any chance of success amongst the Garcia camp.
Thank God I never told Henry, otherwise I’d have been on the “suck my d***” list alongside Tim Bradley, Chris Algieri and Paulie Malignaggi. Quite esteemed company, to be fair.
Garcia’s position now is a curious one. I can’t imagine anyone at 140lb being too keen on tying down a fight contract in which one side has absolutely no regard for the weight limit.
It is for that reason that I wonder whether this win will come with an asterisk when we look back in years to come.
I am sorry to be a killjoy, but it should be reiterated that purposely presenting yourself significantly overweight to create a distorted fight is not, and should not, be the norm.
It is, for now at least, an easy topic to brush over after such an emotive and thrilling event.
A future at 147lb seems to be what would make most sense for King Ry.
Maybe there is an avenue for a rematch too, although I think both men (and boxing) could do with a break in the storyline just for now, just so we can catch our breath a bit.
Oscar Bevis
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