An important look at the past week in boxing
BIGGEST WINNER
Ryan Garcia
We don’t know if Garcia will leave his rocker or to what extent.
He showed signs of serious problems ahead of his fight against Devin Haney on Saturday, acting erratically at every turn, but at least some of that appeared to be a move to sell out the fight. war and himself. And the fact that he lost 3.2 pounds, which was unprofessional, raised more questions about his thinking.
What we know for sure now is that Garcia can fight.
Garcia turned in one of the most impressive performances in recent years at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, overcoming any problems outside the ring that might have required him to knock out Haney three times and won a majority decision in an unforgettable battle.
When everything is taken into account — Garcia’s behavior, his inability to make weight, his knockout loss to Gervonta Davis, Haney’s reputation — Saturday’s events were puzzling.
Keep in mind that the gifted and disciplined Haney has entered multiple pound-for-pound lists — No. 10 on Boxing Junkie’s — after a string of wins over one elite opponent after another over the past few years. Some people think he can rise to number 1.
And the crazy kid with the questionable skill set made him his personal enemy. pinata with arguably the most dangerous punch in pound-for-pound boxing, his left hook, which Haney could neither avoid nor execute.
Garcia will never be confused with boxing wizards like Shakur Stevenson and Vasiliy Lomachenko but he left no doubt on Saturday that his unusual combination of speed and power can make up for it. for any shortcomings, even when facing a boxer.
The extra 3.2 pounds on the scale was a win to some degree. We’ll always wonder whether Garcia had an unfair advantage, both in terms of the extra weight and the fact that he didn’t have to punish himself to reach 140. His misstep cost him $1.5 million and the chance to fight for Haney’s title but he could ‘I was bigger and stronger than Haney, who had gained weight.
Yet we saw what we saw, Garcia’s signature punching ability against an opponent many believed was headed towards superstardom, putting him on the canvas three times for the first time. first in his career and a decisive victory in the sports capital of the United States.
What now?
Garcia suggested afterward that he would give Haney a rematch, which would be well received after Saturday’s drama. However, we will see. That performance and the unquestioned popularity of his social media star give him unlimited options – and enormous leverage – even though he has never won a major title. world.
Every top fighter at 140 and 147 (if he moves up) will want to fight Garcia because of his money making and perceived limitations. Teofimo López? Shakur Stevenson? A rematch with Davis?
Ryan Garcia’s show appears to be at the beginning of a long road to success.
THE BIGGEST LOSER
Devin Haney
Devin Haney tried to understand what happened after his shocking loss to Ryan Garcia on Saturday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Al Bello/Getty Images
One minute you were talking about greatness. Next you are forced to start the rebuild process. That’s boxing.
Haney has been impressive, with consecutive decision wins over Yuryorkis Gamboa, Jorge Linares, Joseph Diaz Jr., George Kambosos Jr. (twice), Vasiliy Lomachenko and Regis Prograis. It’s no surprise that he’s a 7-1 favorite going into the fight, a huge margin by boxing standards.
However, the 140-pound champion entered the ring with a problem: He couldn’t punch, which gave a knockout artist like Garcia no reason to hesitate. And there’s a good chance he’ll get to you eventually.
That’s what happened on Saturday night, as Garcia took full advantage of what Haney was given and continued to throw – and land – his deadly left hook, making all three takedowns and leading to unbelievable victory.
Haney deserves credit for finishing the game on his feet, a testament to his toughness and conditioning. That said, he doesn’t have a great chin either. He was stunned by the first hook which caused him to fall but was seriously injured by the second and third hooks, which left Garcia far behind him in the championship round.
I wouldn’t say Haney is exposed because I respect Garcia’s ability but he definitely has flaws that we didn’t see coming before Saturday.
I felt bad for Haney during his post-fight interview in the ring, which was the last place he wanted to be at that moment. Not only did he suffer his first defeat, but he was also very embarrassed. What can he say?
He tried to console himself that he kept fighting despite the adversity and then called for a rematch, after which he walked away to begin the difficult process of trying to understand what had just happened with me.
Haney, just 25 years old, will never be seen the same again but he is far from finished. He remains largely what we thought he would be, a talented, well-trained fighter who remains a top 140-pound fighter.
The best-case scenario for him is a win in an immediate rematch with Garcia, perhaps in the fall. It won’t erase the memory of what happened on Saturday but he will regain much of what he lost and can then build on that.
