On April 16, 2024, two highly anticipated boxers, Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia, faced off at The Empire State Building in New York City. However, the fight took a bizarre turn when Garcia failed to make weight for their scheduled bout for the 140-pound super lightweight title. He came in 3.2 lbs. overweight, causing both camps to negotiate a deal that would allow the fight to proceed as a non-title bout.
In the weeks leading up to the fight, Garcia exhibited erratic behavior that raised concerns about his mental state. From discussing conspiracy theories to controversial statements and wild antics, Garcia’s behavior was anything but normal.
Many speculated if Garcia was truly struggling with mental health issues or simply playing up a persona for promotional purposes. Despite this, Golden Boy Promotions confirmed that the fight would go ahead as planned.
The fighters had agreed to a bet that would result in a hefty payout if one of them missed weight. In the end, Haney confirmed that Garcia had honored the bet despite being overweight for the fight.
The buildup to the bout between these two promising fighters was already turbulent, and this added another layer of drama to an already chaotic event.