Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia met at The Empire State Building in New York City on April 16, 2024. Boxer Ryan Garcia failed to make weight for his scheduled bout against Devin Haney for the 140-pound super lightweight title on April 20 in New York. Garcia came in 3.2 lbs overweight, resulting in negotiations between both teams to proceed with the fight as a non-title bout. Even though Garcia was over the weight limit, Golden Boy Promotions confirmed that the fight would still take place.
The weigh-in incident was just one of the strange occurrences leading up to the fight. In recent months, Garcia’s behavior has been erratic and unpredictable. On social media, he has made bizarre claims about the Illuminati, aliens, and his own personal freedoms. At times, he has shared concerning messages about being restricted and feeling like a prisoner in his own life. Despite his controversial statements, Garcia has also been known for self-promotion and generating interest in his fights through unconventional means.
Among the peculiar aspects of the pre-fight hype was a bet between Haney and Garcia, agreeing to pay $500,000 for every pound they were over the 140-pound limit. Garcia did honor the bet, weighing in at 143.2 pounds and potentially owing Haney $1.5 million. Though his behavior has raised questions about his mental well-being, some speculate that Garcia’s actions may be part of a strategy to attract attention to the fight. Regardless of the circumstances, the bout between the two fighters continued as planned.