Ryan Garcia Suggests He Has Mentally Broken Devin Haney – ‘Where Is His Head Space’

November 28, 2024

3 days

Ryan Garcia Suggests He Has Mentally Broken Devin Haney - 'Where Is His Head Space'

Ryan Garcia has suggested that he has mentally broken Devin Haney as he prepares for his exhibition against Rukiya Anpo in Tokyo, Japan, on December 30.

Garcia faced Haney in April in one of the biggest fights this year. He dropped Haney three times as he secured a majority decision victory. However, the result became a no contest once Garcia failed VADA tests for Ostarine. Ryan was adamant he had not taken anything intentionally. But it was not enough to prevent him from getting a year ban, as the result was overturned into a no-contest. Since then, the attention has been focused on the fighters’ next steps. While Garcia has an exhibition, Haney has no fight lined up. He vacated his WBC Junior Welterweight Title after only Top Rank made a single purse bid for his Sandor Martin fight, who was his then mandatory.

Haney’s Struggles

There have also been question marks over whether Haney will fight at 140 or move up to 147. The IBF Junior Welterweight Champion Liam Paro has said Haney priced himself out of a fight, preventing The Dream from having an immediate title shot. Haney also said the WBO Junior Welterweight Champion Teofimo Lopez turned down the chance to fight in October. But Lopez shut down reports that he was in talks to face Haney, leaving question marks over Devin’s future. Fights at 147 also appear out of reach. The IBF Welterweight Champion, Jaron Ennis, is likely to move up to 154 pounds.

Meanwhile, the WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barros has just come off a draw against Abel Ramos on the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson card. That means he is unlikely to face Haney, given he has a point to prove over the Ramos result. Oscar De La Hoya has already ruled out an immediate Haney rematch on Garcia’s return. The Golden Boy promoter has talked up a fight with Teofimo Lopez instead. If Haney wants to secure the Garcia rematch, he has to decide whether to remain active or wait for Ryan.

Garcia Reacts

The longer he is out of the ring, the more harm it does to his brand. Gervonta Davis has a fight with Lamont Roach Jr. set for March 1. Shakur Stevenson is also expected to fight in February despite his fights with William Zepeda and Joe Cordina falling through. That leaves Haney at the bottom of the pecking order. But his father, Bill Haney, continues to be vocal on social media. Garcia has now responded, saying he does not feel Haney is in the right frame of mind to continue boxing.

“Me and Devin Haney, I didn’t respect anything he threw, and anytime I wanted to land, I did. I don’t know what’s going to go on with him. I haven’t heard anything. [And] I don’t know what’s going to happen with Devin Haney. He doesn’t seem eager to get in the ring. I don’t know where his head space is at, but it seems like his dad continues to talk. So, I might have to beat up Bill,” Ryan said