Devin Haney recognised he “fell asleep” on Ryan Garcia’s left hook and spoke of his desire for a rematch.
At the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, he lost his undefeated status and WBC super-lightweight title after Garcia became the first to knock him down when his explosive power recorded knockdowns in the seventh, 10th and 11th rounds
Haney was also repeatedly hurt in those rounds as well before them in the first, and for all that he showed his heart by continually returning to his feet and fighting on he appeared oddly underprepared for so dangerous – and yet a rather one-dimensional – opponent.
The 25 year old has long been considered one of the world’s finest fighters and was the significant underdog against Garcia, also 25 and the subject of widespread concerns surrounding his mental health.
He and Garcia, who weighed in at 143.2lbs and therefore was ineligible to win Haney’s title, verbally agreed a rematch before leaving the ring, but Haney said: “I’m disappointed about my performance. I [showed I] was a true champion and I could fight after being knocked down.
“I fell asleep on the left hook. We trained for it but I got in there and fell asleep.
“I gave him a shot; it’s only right he gives me a shot back. He didn’t make weight, so I’m still the champion. We can run it back.”
Haney’s face was swollen and bleeding by the fight’s conclusion, after which he didn’t speak to the media.
