Ryan Garcia’s recent run of erratic behavior has prompted Devin Haney to declare that his rival might call it quits on his career even before their scheduled clash takes place on April 20.
During their back-and-forth promotional banter, Garcia said he would retire if Haney stopped him in one round.
“Ryan might retire before we get to the fight,” Haney quipped.
Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) and Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) have been trading a war of words during the build-up to their bout at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on DAZN pay-per-view.
But after their multi-city press tour concluded, Garcia posted a bizarre message on social media on Sunday, with a caption that read, “We got him boys … Ryan Garcia RIP B**** … 666 … We told you we were coming …”
Garcia released a video Monday to declare that he was alive, but the post left many wondering and worrying, with more questions about his well-being than ever before.
“I’m coming on here to explain what's going on,” Garcia said. “I'm not in possession of my phone. I can't get access to my Instagram. My cards are locked. And I’m just being really taken advantage [of]. I would personally want to just send out a video to the people that love me and my fans, family that’s concerned, that I’m okay. I’m not dead. I believe in Jesus. All those [rumors] are lies. They tried to put me in jail. They are blocking my cards. I can’t access my money. Nobody is hitting me back. I don’t know what’s going on, but just know I’m okay. Love.”
Henry Garcia, Ryan's father and co-trainer, said Sunday that his son is “OK” and that “he’s just trolling the wrong way.” Garcia’s wife also expressed deep concern and said that she believes Garcia is being “oppressed.”
For all the speculation, Garcia also posted this to social media on Monday: “[B]elieve it or not the fight is still on.”
Garcia, 25, has chronicled his mental health issues in detail throughout the last several years. In 2021, he pulled out of an announced fight and didn’t fight for 15 months as he tended to his mental health.
Garcia’s unpredictable behavior has prompted Golden Boy Promotions to form a contingency plan, with undefeated junior welterweight contender Arnold Barboza Jr. waiting in the wings as the backup opponent should Garcia not make it to the fight.
