On April 16, 2024, at The Empire State Building in New York City, boxers Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia faced off for a non-title bout for the 140-pound super lightweight title. However, Garcia came in 3.2 lbs. overweight, prompting both camps to negotiate a deal to allow the fight to proceed.
Despite being over his contractual weight, Golden Boy Promotions confirmed that the fight would happen. This added to the bizarre nature of the lead-up to the fight, with Garcia exhibiting erratic behavior in the months prior. From discussing conspiracy theories to controversial statements and wild antics, Garcia’s behavior raised concerns about his mental state.
Garcia’s behavior was so unpredictable that it led many people to question if he was truly struggling with mental health issues or simply playing up a persona for promotional purposes. The fighters had agreed to a bet that would result in a hefty payout if one of them missed weight.
In the end, Haney confirmed that Garcia had honored the bet despite being overweight for the fight. This added another layer of drama to an already turbulent buildup to the bout between two promising fighters who were expected to have bright futures in boxing.
The fight itself was not what anyone expected as Garcia struggled throughout and was ultimately knocked out by Haney in round three. It was clear that Garcia’s erratic behavior had taken its toll on him both physically and mentally.
However, despite his loss, there were still many who praised Garcia for his bravery and determination in stepping into the ring despite all of the challenges he faced leading up to it. Only time will tell if Garcia can get back on track and continue his career as one of boxing’s top contenders or if he will struggle with mental health issues moving forward.
:quality(75)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/elcomercio/LUMN3YK6GVD5JP2RD56AAQJJ2Q.jpg)
