In a battle of two young boxing prodigies, Ryan Garcia emerged victorious with a stunning knockout victory over Devin Haney on Sunday.
The judges’ scores reflected the intensity of the battle: 112-112, 114-110, and 115-109.
However, Garcia’s failure to meet the 140-pound weight limit at Friday’s weigh-in meant that the WBC super lightweight title, previously held by Haney, was no longer up for grabs. Despite the loss, Haney retained the coveted belt.
Here’s a recap of the key moments from the fight:
In the first round, Garcia had a tremendous start, rocking Haney with a massive left hook. Haney immediately clinched to fend off Garcia’s attack.
For the rest of the round, Haney appeared slightly gunshy but kept Garcia at bay with his left jab, which is considered one of the best in boxing.
In the second round, Haney struck first, connecting with a stiff left jab that reddened Garcia’s nose.
Haney continued to use his jab effectively, while Garcia looked for counter opportunities. Referee Harvey Dock warned Garcia twice for hitting Haney behind the head in the second round.
In the third round, Haney unleashed a powerful overhand right, landing the first impactful blow.
As the clock ticked closer to the two-minute mark, Garcia swung a mighty left hook, but unfortunately missed his target.
However, with only 50 seconds remaining in the round, Garcia carelessly dropped his right hand, providing an opening for Haney.
Seizing the opportunity, Haney swiftly struck back with a precise left hook that packed a punch. The force of the blow caused Garcia, who had been a long-standing adversary of Haney, to express his frustration by pounding his gloves.
In the final fight, Garcia scored three knockdowns, including one in the second round with a counter left hook that rolled Haney’s eyes as he was launched backward to the canvas.
