American Devin Haney, who owned the World Boxing Council belt ( WBC) in the junior welterweight (up to 63.5 kg), unexpectedly stumbled in a fight with compatriot Ryan Garcia and was unable to defend the championship title. Sports correspondent talks about the bright fight at the New York Barclays Center arena and the first defeat of the Dream in his professional career.
Who are these daring guys? One of the most stellar representatives of the new generation of boxers. Both are 25 years old, both have millions of fan armies and spectacular styles — the meeting of such tops could not help but attract the attention of a global audience.
Haney is an undefeated boxer with perfect technique, in which practically no flaws were seen. It is no coincidence that the youngest absolute world champion with the nickname “Dream” was compared to Floyd Mayuser Jr. himself. What hurt the American’s image a little was his “dislike” for knockouts (16 out of 31 fights reached a decision) and a controversial victory over the Ukrainian Vasily Lomachenko.
Garcia is perhaps head and shoulders above Haney in terms of media presence. It was thanks to social networks that the Golden Boy gained popularity — Ryan’s skills were more than once criticized by experts. The first defeat in his career from Gervonta Davis finally convinced the audience that the athlete was overrated. Which, however, still remains a great asset, attracting the attention of fans and advertisers.
Scandalous fight week Unexpectedly for the boxing audience, Garcia “floated”. A scandalous divorce from his wife immediately after the birth of their second child, dubious publications on social networks (local media are sure that they fasted under the author’s alcohol or drug intoxication), crazy statements about rape at two years old and “identifying as a woman,” a forecast of a terrible earthquake in the States … The way a boxer goes crazy (or trolls) amazed not only the fans — the promoters and Saul «Canelo» Alvarez sounded the alarm.
But the tricks continued: Garcia did something out of the ordinary, which almost ruined the fight against Devin. On Friday he failed the weigh-in, showing on the scales 64.9 kg with a limit of 63.5 kg. Fortunately, the fight was not canceled — Haney, whose mother was insulted by Ryan, remained in the game (Garcia lost the bet and, according to the terms of the bet, will pay his opponent $1.5 million). However, the confrontation was deprived of title status for Garcia: if the challenger had won, the belt would have remained vacant.
Was the underdog worried about what happened? Not at all. Garcia drank beer at the ceremonial weigh-in, and “flying” past the limit commented very strangely: “Why should I torture myself with weight loss? To be weak?”
Not that American Dream Haney's problems began in the first round, when Garcia reached but did not finish his opponent. What happened could be explained by the fact that the favorite did not get into the fight — it happens. Having concentrated, Devin took the initiative and began to score points according to the classics.
And then there was the seventh round. And New York almost went crazy: Garcia fed Haney a left hand and knocked the champion down. After which Devin had to survive! He backed away, tried to clinch his opponent, and sometimes even started fighting — the legs did not obey the favorite, and he, as best he could, saved himself from being recorded as a knockout… The referee helped: he allowed Haney to continue the fight in a situation where the athlete had to be saved from being beaten. He also deprived Garcia of one point for a blow after a pause.
In the tenth round, Haney again ran into a left hand. And again several knockdowns, after which the belt holder reached the 11th three-minute period, only to fly there to the fifth point after a “two” to the head. Each time, Ryan lacked literally a couple of finishing punches — the lack of stamina affected him.
However, despite the lack of a finish, the judges rated King Ryan’s performance: 112-112, 114-110, 115-109 in favor of Garcia. The failed Haney suffers his first defeat and leaves the belt, for which, most likely, the boxers will fight again in a rematch.
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