Devin Haney Eyes Ryan Garcia Rematch, Wants ‘Fair Fight’ Under Agreed Weight

Joseph Zucker@@JosephZuckerFeatured Columnist IVApril 25, 2024

Al Bello/Getty Images

Devin Haney lobbied for a rematch with Ryan Garcia following his stunning upset on April 20.

“Ryan, despite the circumstances was victorious that night and that’s fine,” he wrote in a lengthy Instagram post Wednesday. “I do feel like weight played a role in it but only Allah knows. I would love to run it back and give the fans a FAIR fight within an agreed weight.”

Complex Sports @ComplexSportsDevin Haney wants to run it back against Ryan Garcia, but under the agreed weight with neither fighter failing to make weight. 👀

(via: @Realdevinhaney IG) pic.twitter.com/HoxI4w4DID

Haney alluded to the fact Garcia missed the agreed-upon weight limit by 3.2 pounds. The fight went ahead as scheduled, but Haney’s WBC junior welterweight championship was no longer at stake.

The previously unbeaten titleholder might have also been thrown off by Garcia’s erratic behavior leading up to the event, which included him drinking from a beer bottle as he walked to the scales at the weigh-in.

br_betting @br_bettingRyan Garcia (+600 ML) chugged a beer during the ceremonial weigh-ins 😭

(via @BOXINGnBBQ)pic.twitter.com/kKlOBlMGpE

Haney called Garcia a “f–king clown” in an interview with ESPN’s Mike Coppinger.

“We’re here now. That’s all that matters,” he said. “The stuff he’s doing is not normal. It’s obvious that something is wrong with him. But what he does outside the ring does not matter. It won’t change what I’m going to do to him inside the ring.”

Haney was the clear favorite going in and Garcia’s antics may have led him to believe the job was even easier than he initially envisioned. That would help partially explain why he was so decisively dispatched.

To say Garcia got lucky would be an overstatement because he was a decisive victor and it wasn’t the case of him connecting on just one or two really good punches.

However, you can also easily envision Haney firmly turning the tables if they were to step into the ring again. Garcia may be in no rush for a return date, though, especially if Haney were to set the terms for the weight.

“I’m not doing 140, I’m going 147,” he told reporters about his plans moving forward. “I can’t make f–kin’ 140. I’ve never even technically fought at 140. My body can’t literally go lower than 143, it’s impossible. I’ve tried every technique.”

Haney would probably have to meet Garcia somewhere in the middle or accede to his demands if he wants to avenge the lone blemish on his record.