In a surprising turn of events at the Barclays Center, Ryan Garcia clinched a remarkable victory over Devin Haney, sending his fellow American to the canvas three times on his way to a majority decision win. However, Garcia’s triumph was overshadowed by the fact that he exceeded the 10st (63.5kg) light-welterweight limit by 3.2lbs (1.45kg), rendering him ineligible to claim the WBC title.
Despite concerns stemming from Garcia’s recent erratic tweets and pre-fight behavior, the bout proceeded as scheduled. Garcia’s knockdowns in the seventh, 10th, and 11th rounds were sufficient to sway two judges in his favor, with scores of 115-109 and 114-110, while a third judge saw it as a draw at 112-112.
Garcia, now boasting 25 victories out of 26 bouts, expressed his confidence post-fight, stating, “You all doubted me, but I proved you wrong. It’s all blown out of proportion.” Meanwhile, Haney, experiencing his first defeat in 32 fights, voiced disappointment in his performance but remained open to a rematch.
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“I’d welcome a rematch. I gave him an opportunity, so it’s only fair he returns the favor. Since he didn’t make weight, I’m still the reigning champion. Let’s do it again,” Haney remarked.
The outcome leaves fans speculating on the potential for a rematch, while also shifting focus to the upcoming Tyson Fury versus Oleksandr Usyk showdown, set to air live on Sky Sports Box Office on May 18.
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