One of the most unusual build-ups to a major fight in recent memory delivered an even crazier outcome on Saturday night when Ryan Garcia scored three knockdowns of Devin Haney and handed the WBC super lightweight champion the first defeat of his professional career in a major upset.
Garcia dropped Haney in the seventh, 10th and 11th rounds to win a majority decision by scores of 115-109, 114-110 and 112-112. (The Guardian had it 113-111 to Garcia.)
The fight had become a non-title fight on Friday when Garcia weighed in at 143.2lbs, a yawning 3.2lbs above the division limit. That created a situation where Garcia could no longer win Haney’s WBC super lightweight title, but Haney could lose it.
That’s exactly what happened.
On paper it was the caliber of event that’s all too rare in boxing today: a matchup between two of America’s brightest young stars, both 25 years old and at the front of their athletic primes with ample top-flight experience. But it was almost entirely overshadowed by Garcia’s erratic behavior both in person and on social media.
“Come on, guys, you really thought I was crazy?” Garcia said.
Garcia landed 87 of 214 punches (40.7%) according to Compubox’s punch statistics, compared to 106 of 285 for Haney (37.2%). But Garcia landed nearly twice as many power shots (95) as his opponent (45), scoring three knockdowns.
More to follow.