Summary
The run-up to Saturday’s Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney super lightweight championship match in Brooklyn has been unlike any PR campaign I’ve ever seen in boxing. The only storyline that matters is Garcia’�s emotional state, which is by all appearances profoundly off-kilter. Garcia got rich by parlaying YouTube notoriety into box office clout. Garcia’s lone loss came last year, when he passed up a fight with Haney to take on Gervonta “Tank” Davis. Haney, the reigning champ, is 31-0 with 15 KOs as a pro. The 25-year-old has been non-stop wacky in the months since the Haney bout was announced. On Tuesday, for example, he reportedly had an invitation to throw out the first pitch at a Mets game withdrawn. Garcia later ranted on social media that he was given the boot from Citi Field for no reason. The New York State Athletic Commission requested a “mental health evaluation” for Garcia. Garcia has had psychological issues before, and has been erratic as a matter of course throughout his career. Garcia talked to TMZ in 2022 about depression and having suicidal thoughts. Garcia gave him the fight a year later and KO’d Fortuna in six. Fortunas didn’t buy the excuse, saying Garcia instead was ducking him. Garcia is the draw in this fight. According to reports, Garcia will get the bigger chunk of a 55/45 split of the purse. Garcia: "There's no way I’m going to miss this fight. I”m not sure if I‘m going back to the ring"