Ryan Garcia's Father Admits Son Wasn't in Top Shape Despite Victory Over Devin Haney
Garcia's Physical Struggles Despite Victory
Ryan Garcia's father, Henry Garcia, has admitted that his son was not in the best shape of his career, even as he celebrated his victory over Devin Haney in April. The 25-year-old boxer looked more muscular than before and managed to knock down Haney three times, bringing his record to 25-1 and ending Haney's 31-fight unbeaten streak.
Training Issues and Physical Fitness
Speaking with former welterweight champion Shane Mosley, Henry Garcia revealed that his son wasn't fully committed to training for the Haney bout. He pointed out that Ryan was more focused and fit during his win over Oscar Duarte. "He seemed comfortable, Shane. But he wasn't in shape. My son wasn't in shape, at 100% for Devin," Garcia Sr said. "I feel real bad, but I mean, I have to be honest. My son was in better shape with Oscar Duarte than he was [against] Devin Haney. If you look at my son fighting Devin Haney, he only fought in spurs. He wasn't consistent. He would fight, and then he would slow down."
Weight Controversy and Penalties
Before the fight, Garcia's failure to make weight by 3.2 lbs caught attention and proved costly. He had to pay a $1.5 million penalty to Haney and was disqualified from fighting for Haney's belts. Despite this, the weight advantage increased his power in the ring. When asked if this was a strategic move, Garcia Sr responded, "I don't have the answer for that."
PED Allegations and Garcia's Defense
Ryan Garcia is currently awaiting the results of his B-sample after testing positive for Ostarine, a performance-enhancing drug (PED), in both his A-sample before and after the fight. The boxer has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, tweeting, "Everybody knows that I don't cheat. Never taken steroids, I don't even know where to get steroids. I barely take supplements. Big lies."
