Ryan Garcia‘s peculiar behavior continued as he missed weight on Friday, overshadowing the highly-anticipated WBC junior welterweight title fight against Devin Haney set to take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
As the weigh-ins unfolded, it became evident that Garcia tipped the scales at 143.2 pounds, crossing well over the 140-pound benchmark for the junior welterweight category.
Throughout fight week, Haney had been vocal about Garcia’s appearance, suggesting the latter might struggle with the weight. Garcia’s weight miss ensued despite a bet offer where $500,000 per pound over the limit was suggested. Haney later confirmed that Garcia honored the bet. An agreement was subsequently reached to proceed with the match as planned.
Garcia’s bizarre antics saw him frequently sharing cryptic messages on social media, making strange appearances, and facing allegations from a female associate. The drama peaked at the ceremonial weigh-ins when Garcia purportedly chugged a beer on stage, later claiming it was sparkling water and apple juice.
Even the faceoff between Haney and Garcia took a tumultuous turn at the Empire State Building, leading to the cancellation of a joint appearance at a New York Mets game. The countdown to the fight had been marred by numerous incidents, leaving many questions about Garcia’s state of mind as the event approached.
During the lead-up, Garcia’s unpredictable conduct has raised concerns about his focus and mental well-being, culminating in the weight miss that rendered him ineligible to vie for the WBC title on Saturday. Despite Garcia’s troubles, the fight against Haney is scheduled to proceed, casting a shadow over what was meant to be a showcase showdown in the boxing world.
Credit Gist New Today News in Newspaper Nigeria Headlines