Ryan Garcia had barely made it to the stand and offered some words of faith when Devin Haney, the world super lightweight champion, interrupted him to point out that cocaine use was ruining his voice.
“I want to clarify something. “I don’t use cocaine,” said Ryan García to laughter and whispers from fans and communicators at the Avalon club in Hollywood, where an event for the promotional tour was taking place. of the fight scheduled for April 20 in New York.
“I drink and smoke marijuana… and so do most of the people in this room,” added García, the popular Mexican-American boxer who is usually in the news more for scandals than for triumphs in the ring.
That admission by García set the tone for a chaotic press conference in which personal and family attacks abounded between the Garcías and the Haneys.
The drama had actually started the night before when a broadcast circulated on social media in which García said he was drugged. Haney, upon hearing about it, said that he would not attend the conference in Hollywood so as not to waste his time because of someone he does not consider professional.
But already on Thursday morning, Haney changed his mind and decided to appear, while García published videos on his social networks in which he was seen running in the Hollywood hills, ensuring that despite his marijuana use he is working and in great physical shape.
Óscar de la Hoya on García’s admission: “That didn’t sit well with me”
“It’s not the best way to start a press conference,” commented Óscar de la Hoya, promoter of Ryan García when speaking with reporters about the issue of marijuana. “It’s honest, but that didn’t sit well with me. An athlete obviously has to take care of himself, especially when you are going to fight for a world championship against the best at 140 pounds.”
De la Hoya, remarkably calm despite the bad image of the fighter he promotes, who has also been publicly against him for several months, trusted that things will be different from now on: “I think that being in camp, you take care of yourself; “They are going to train hard, be in optimal condition to put up a great fight.”
From a press conference to a party between families
During García and Haney’s interventions on stage there was quite a circus and colorful phrases. First because García, 25 years old and with a record of 24-1, arrived dancing and singing accompanied by women, as he did two days before at the press conference in New York. Then, because the boxers’ parents launched constant attacks and insults.
The parents’ discussions revolved around the professionalism or non-professionalism of their children, who have history in the ring: each won three fights in their days as amateurs. Haney, also 25 years old and with a record of 31-0, complained about allegedly racist comments from Garcia’s father regarding African-American hair. This after teasing from his own father about the Garcías’ hair.
The entire session was somewhere between chaotic and deplorable, with De la Hoya and host Mario López, who served as moderator, sometimes looking at each other uneasily.
In the end, During the face to face of the two men who are scheduled to face each other on April 20 at the Barclays Center in New York something strange happened, because García abruptly turned around with a blurred face and left the stage. He no longer showed up for the interview session with reporters.
The Haneys shout that Ryan García will not enter the ring
The fight looks attractive, but All the drama that is surrounding the event could continue to contaminate the environment. In fact, voices are heard from analysts – and from the Haney camp itself – regarding the possibility that García ends up leaving. of combat.
The speculation gained more volume in the middle of the conference when Arnold Barboza Jr., who was announced to be on the same card, said in the middle of the stage and the two contenders at his sides that he is ready to go up to the main fight in case any of they are absent.
In the end, De La Hoya ruled out Haney vs. García could fall and even considered that his fighter “is a genius” and that he knows what he is doing with his tactics. However, there are seven weeks left until the fight date and today he feels like anything can happen.
Keep reading:
– Devin Haney says Ryan Garcia will retire from boxing after facing him
– Ryan García makes peace with his promoters Óscar de la Hoya and Bernard Hopkins
– Although he says he has nothing against New York, Ryan García wanted to change the venue of the lawsuit