Boxers Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia faced off at The Empire State Building on April 16, 2024, in New York City. However, the fight between the two promising boxers was marred by controversy as 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 to allow the fight to proceed as a non-title bout.
Despite his overweight status, Golden Boy Promotions confirmed that the fight would happen. This added to the bizarre nature of the lead-up to the fight, with Garcia exhibiting erratic behavior in the months prior. From discussing conspiracy theories to controversial statements and wild antics, Garcia’s behavior raised concerns about his mental state.
Garcia’s behavior led many to question if he was truly struggling with mental health issues or simply playing up a persona for promotional purposes. 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. This added another layer of drama to an already turbulent buildup to the bout between two promising boxers.