Beaten world champion Devin Haney has said it is “only right” for Ryan Garcia to grant him a rematch after the underdog knocked him down three times on the way to a majority decision victory featuring three knockdowns for the victor.
Two-weight titlist Haney suffered the first defeat of his 32-fight career in New York, where Garcia floored him in the seventh, 10th and 11th rounds before taking a 112-112, 114-110 and 115-109 win on the scorecards.
“I fell asleep on the left hook,” Haney said of his decking in the penultimate round. “We trained for it but I got in there and fell asleep.
“I gave him a shot, it’s only right he gives me a shot back. He didn’t make weight, so I’m still the champion. We can run it back.”
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Garcia, who has won 24 of his 25 bouts, weighed in more than three pounds over the light welterweight limit, and Haney said before the fight that he had honoured a bet between the pair to pay $500,000 per pound missed.
His carelessness also cost him a shot at Haney’s WBC belt as part of a troubled year in which he admitted he had been drinking nightly following a divorce earlier this year.
“I need a shot of beer or alcohol or something to get my mind going,” said Garcia. “I’m just kidding – can’t you guys take a joke?
“Maybe my conditioning wasn’t my best but I got the job done. I have ADHD, so I just start doing random things. I put [my team] through hell in this camp. Let’s run it back.”
Sweet Chin Music
Here are all 3 knockdowns @RyanGarcia delivered to @Realdevinhaney to secure the win.#HaneyGarcia pic.twitter.com/18obAwynEE
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) April 21, 2024
Garcia v Haney result: Winner ‘having fun’
“I walked through the fire, still held it down, still beat Devin Haney and still drink every day,” added Garcia. “I drink every single night, went out on the first Monday and the Tuesday and drank, and I won.
“Not necessarily am I proud of it. I do whatever I want and I still win. I was just having fun. I’m going through a lot. I did what I felt I needed to do to feel OK.
Garcia and Haney had fought six times before turning professional, sharing three wins each. “I showed that I was a true champion,” said Haney.
“I can fight after being knocked down and hurt. The first time, I wasn’t really that hurt. I was more surprised. He jumped on me. I thought it was a close fight.”
