Ryan Garcia Drops and Decisions Devin Haney

Ryan Garcia scored an upset majority decision over WBC 140 lb. titleholder Devin Haney at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn, New York last night on DAZN PPV. In a highly anticipated match up of young stars in the sport there was some controversy in the lead up to the fight. Garcia who had previously pulled out of a fight with Javier Fortuna citing mental health issues had some unusual posts on social media and displayed some odd behavior leading up to the fight. He missed weight by three pounds and underwent an evaluation by the New York State Athletic Commission for some of his words and actions. Shockingly he also drank a beer at the ceremonial weigh-in. The face offs also got physical with Haney shoving Garcia at the final press conference.

Early on in the first round, Garcia caught Haney with a solid left hook. Haney was the favorite going in based on his defensive prowess, jab, counter punch ability and recent performance over Regis Prograis. Haney survived the hook and Garcia did not force the advantage. From the second round until the sixth round Haney was able to outbox Garcia and avoid the left hook. Garcia’s chances going in stemmed from his hand speed and left hook punching power. He was viewed as a bit one dimensional, used a flawed shoulder roll and did not move his head well. These weaknesses were visible during the stretch of rounds that Haney was able to take control in. Despite Haney winning on points after six rounds, he did not score any significant damage with exception on a single blow in the third round that seemed to rattle Garcia briefly.

After six rounds Haney was ahead having won rounds two through five on my scorecard along with official judges Eric Marlinski and Robin Taylor with judge Max DeLuca giving Haney all but the first round. The sixth round was close but Garcia was able to briefly hurt Haney with a right hand. The fight changed dramatically in the seventh round when a left hook and right hand combination floored Haney. Haney struggled to rise and there was still two minutes to go. Garcia flew in to try and finish the fight and swung wildly on Haney who held to survive. Referee Harvey Dock has been heavily criticized for his performance refereeing the fight; he called break and Garcia did hit Haney coming out of the clinch. This gave Haney precious recovery time. Calling the foul was correct as was pausing the action on the illegal blow; however, taking the point has been hotly debated. Haney hit the canvas a few more times in the round but these were not ruled knockdowns. The Haney holding was excessive and helped him survive the round. Many have complained that Haney deserved to be deducted points for it and was fortunate to not have additional knockdowns awarded to Garcia. Haney was also fortunate to survive to begin with. With the knockdown and deduction, Garcia was only able to close the score gap by one point instead of two. Haney still lead by a point on Marliniski and Taylor’s scorecards and led by three on DeLuca’s card.

Haney came out for the eighth round and his legs did not appear to be fully under him. Haney showed a lot of heart in round eight and nine as he got back into the fight and had a case to win the eighth and ninth rounds which he did do on DeLuca’s card and took the eighth on Marlinski’s. Garcia squandered his momentum by not pushing the advantage and continued to turn his back and shell up. As unconventional and ugly Garcia’s shoulder roll was, Haney was only able to dig short but ineffective right hooks to the left side and back of Garcia. Haney was able to pile up points and arguably win the rounds but was not able to change the momentum in the fight. However, Garcia going into the tenth round found himself behind on two of the three scorecards.

Garcia got back to commanding the fight by dropping Haney in the tenth round and again in the eleventh round. Haney needed a knockout to win the fight in the twelfth and Garcia spent the round showboating despite trainer Derrick James telling him essentially to not play with Haney and to not let him off the hook. Garcia danced and taunted in the final minute but still won the final round with cleaner punching. The Final Scores saw DeLuca score the fight 112-112 which is generous but not impossible. Some fans have expressed anger at the draw card but I do not have a problem with it though I disagree with it. Chris Mannix on the DAZN broadcast had the same score but did so by giving the final round to Haney which none of the actual judges did.

Post fight Garcia was brash but rubbed it in the face of his critics by mocking the people who called him crazy. Did he play mind games? Does he have real problems with substance abuse and mental health that he managed to overcome? Garcia masterfully did not drain himself and opted to not boil down to 140 lbs. which cost a chunk of his purse plus a personal bet made to Haney for $500K for every pound over the weight limit. Haney to his credit made no excuses and had visible swelling, possibly a broken jaw which I have seen mentioned but not verified. Garcia welcomed a rematch, Haney has expressed his desire to get a rematch but insisted on both making weight. Haney managed to keep his title from the WBC due to Garcia missing weight.

The fight was ugly at times, exciting at others, and tactical and slow in moments. Both men engaged in a lot of clinching with Haney being criticized for holding in other fights. Haney did hold excessively in round seven and to survive in rounds ten and eleven. Garcia did employ a lot of headlocks and holding in close himself, especially in the rounds Haney won leading up to round seven. Haney’s strategy seemed to consist mostly of ducking the left hook and trying to fight inside. This worked for a time but also led to the holding as the two seemed to lunge into each other and get tangled. Haney got a little over reliant on his overhand right over the lazy left of Garcia. Garcia shifted tactics and got on his bike and though Haney controlled the center of the ring, he did not do damage. The movement from Garcia took away the counter opportunities that Haney banked on by going under the left hook. For all of the things Haney did right and Garcia did wrong, Garcia managed to not take damage and preserved himself long enough to score the left hook and turn the tables.

I was among the crowd who felt Haney was going to win; I also felt he was going to win the fight in dominant fashion. I was critical of Garcia’s mentality and for lack of a better expression felt he did not have the heart to be a champion. I over-emphasized Garcia’s weaknesses while over evaluating Haney’s strengths and overlooked his vulnerabilities. For six rounds Haney was the better fighter but he was on egg shells the entire fight. Garcia who I felt always had a puncher’s chance was able to apply pressure and back Haney up. Haney did not handle the pressure well and was in with a fighter who could match his speed while also possessing deadly power. I am happy to be proven wrong in this instance, Garcia earned this win. Also, boxing could use a KO punching star to bring excitement for a young audience of fans.

Where do we go from here? Garcia has made it clear he wishes to move up to welterweight. Haney announced on social media that he would like a rematch. It is not clear that an immediate rematch is next. I favor Garcia in a rematch in the immediate wake of this fight. Garcia was able to ride out the success of Haney and rock Haney just about anytime he put his offense together. Haney struggled mightily to avoid the left hook and right hand was an improved weapon. The right hand began to find its mark in the sixth round and was part of the reason the left hook was able to make it back into the fight. Haney was able to neutralize Garcia in stretches and take what was given. I think Garcia found a hole in the armor and continued to exploit it continuously and will do that earlier in a rematch. Haney showed lots of guts to make the final bell but was vulnerable in the ring last night. Haney’s stock has certainly plummeted and I am not sure I would make him the favorite to beat Teofimo Lopez, Shakur Stevenson or Gervonta Davis at this point. Garcia despite winning showed some of the very flaws I had been critical of but Haney was not able to capitalize. Bigger men and bigger punchers at 147 lbs. can exploit these problems. That said, I am no longer doubting Garcia’s toughness and ability to overcome. I would have IBF champion Jaron Ennis as the favorite but he is also unproven at the elite level.