Summary
Garcia (25-1, 20 KOs) was a major underdog and virtually counted out. One judge scored the bout 112-112 but was overruled by scores of 114-110 and 115-109. Garcia wasn't eligible to win Haney's WBC junior welterweight title. Haney was a -900 favorite earlier in the week, but closed at -575. Garcia pretended to drink a beer at Friday's weigh-in and paid Haney upward of $600,000. Haney later said Garcia honored the bet, which would mean Garcia paid Hanes $1.5 million. Ryan Garcia dropped Devin Haney in Round 7. It was the first time Haney had been knocked down in his career. Garcia was deducted one point by referee Harvey Dock. "It was a horrible ref," said Garcia. "I felt an opportunity to keep swinging while my hands were free" Garcia floored Haney again in Round 10 with a tremendous right hand, the same punch he used to wobble Haney in Round 6. The following round, Garcia landed his money punch again, a counter left hook that rolled Haney's eyes. Garcia went for the finish, but Haney was able to stave him off and heard the final bell. Garcia often used a shoulder roll where he exposed his back, a tactic he vowed to never use again after he ineffectively deployed it in his eighth-round KO win over Oscar Duarte in December. The defensive method didn't work again, but he still was able to neutralize Haney's elite jab by countering over the top. Haney retained his undisputed lightweight championship with a razor-thin unanimous decision. Garcia lost in his only previous bout on the elite level, a seventh-round KO defeat by Gervonta Davis. Haney won via shutout on all three cards in his junior welterweight debut. Garcia was required to undergo a mental health evaluation by the New York State Athletic Commission. He previously said he felt the decision was unfair and "demeaned" him. In April 2021, Garcia withdrew from a bout with Javier Fortuna to address his mental health. The last time they fought was January 2015. Garcia won that amateur bout via unanimous decision in Southern California. Haney won that three-round contest in the same fashion. They were 16 then. Nine years later, Garcia broke the stalemate and won the only fight that mattered.