Ryan Garcia, also known as ‘KingRy,’ is gearing up for a high-profile boxing match against Devin Haney on April 20 in Brooklyn, New York.
The lead-up to this fight has been anything but ordinary, marked by Garcia’s unpredictable and troubling behavior since the fight’s announcement in February.
During various pre-fight press appearances, Garcia openly discussed his use of alcohol and cannabis. More alarmingly, he made erratic claims including being kidnapped and forced to witness horrific acts involving minors.
This series of bizarre statements have fueled widespread speculation about whether Garcia would actually step into the ring on fight night.
Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney Set for Showdown in Brooklyn
Despite concerns over Garcia’s mental and physical readiness, pulling him from the bout isn’t straightforward.
Eddie Hearn, Haney’s co-promoter and Matchroom Boxing chairman, touched on the complexity of such decisions in an interview with Fight Hub TV.
Hearn explained the contractual challenges in withdrawing a fighter from a scheduled match, stating:
“You can’t pull someone out of a fight, contractually. If you’re my fighter and I think you’re not right and I come up to you and say, ‘I think we should delay this fight.’ And he goes, ‘Are you joking? I’m f**king ready.’ You can’t just pull him out.”
Watch Hearn discuss the intricacies surrounding Ryan Garcia’s participation below from 2:55:
Fight Night Predictions: Garcia Confident Despite Controversies
Initially slated as a WBC super lightweight title fight, the bout faced a hiccup when Garcia missed weight by more than three pounds, leading to it being rescheduled as a non-title fight.
Despite the chaotic pre-fight period and weight issues, Hearn believes Garcia remains a formidable opponent for Haney, possessing the necessary speed and power to pose a serious threat.
A fired up @RyanGarcia boldly predicts that he will KO Devin Haney within two rounds this weekend. 🔮
More here: https://t.co/oZX06ysxJB#HaneyGarcia pic.twitter.com/feADtFt4xI
— Boxing News+ (@BoxingNewsPlus) April 18, 2024
For his part, Garcia appears unshaken by his erratic lead-up to the fight, confidently predicting the outcome of the match. He shared his game plan and expectations for the night, saying:
“It’s gonna be a good first round, maybe feel him out, see what he’s got going [on]. Then start touching him, then all of another sudden, 30 seconds I’ma drop him. Let his a** get back up, then second round I’m gonna knock him the f**k out.”
