Ryan Garcia: ‘Belts Don’t Feed Your Family’

In January, a video circulated through social media showed Garcia taking a job with ‘TBE’ Floyd Mayweather Jr. While initially it seemed harmless, Garcia’s actions afterward led everyone to believe it was something more. Garcia would follow that video by challenging Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero to a fight after saying he would fight Haney. All those following started to put things together and figured it was part of the conversation with Mayweather that led to that shift in the opponent.

Things fell apart with the Rolly fight, so the plan quickly went back to going after Haney. Once the deal was made, everyone started buzzing about the fight. The press conference held in NYC had a ton of energy behind it, with Garcia making up with Bernard Hopkins (the two had gone back and forth in the past on social media) and being on the same page with his promoter Oscar De La Hoya. The Los Angeles press conference resulted in some uncomfortable comments that could be considered racial slurs from Garcia’s father towards Bill Haney, and the psychological warfare began.

This is where the Mayweather conversation during that jog could be in play. Garcia made some questionable comments about everything from religion to the government and appeared on all sorts of pop-culture podcasts, putting on a show that brought attention to him but not in the way people were comfortable seeing. It was all too much for many of the fans following it, but unlike any other fight on the calendar, Garcia stayed trending on social media almost every day, from the press conference to today’s weigh-in. That’s something that isn’t easy to accomplish, and whether people agree with his tactics, it showed that many were interested in the shenanigans.

Oscar De La Hoya Reminisces Over Floyd Mayweather Fight Promotion

Before Haney & Garcia attended the ceremonial weigh-in, De La Hoya looked visibly annoyed at what occurred hours earlier, which was Garcia missing weight by 3.2 pounds. Regardless, De La Hoya put on the Golden Boy smile and interviewed on DAZN. De La Hoya said, “Seeing Ryan (Garcia) throughout the promotion reminds me of Floyd (Mayweather).” He mentioned how Mayweather brought a chicken with a medal around its neck to the press conference during their fight in 2007 and how his luggage was stolen on the way to the hotel for that fight week. De La Hoya admitted to being very pissed off at the time, and it threw him off his game plan.

Was part of the jog that Garcia had with Mayweather more about Garcia transitioning into the “Money May” phase of his career where A-Side dominates, calls the shots, and it has less to do with belts but more about money? Mayweather once said, “Belts collect dust, I’m in the check cashing business.” Maybe that’s where Garcia is at this point in his career. He released a music single today under the partnership he formed with Universal Records and has many revenue streams, so does a WBC title matter?

Ryan Garcia Flexes His Star Power Muscles, But Will It Help Tomorrow Night?

Garcia told everyone exactly how he was taking the events that occurred on Friday afternoon when he said, “My balls got too heavy and back gained too much muscle from carrying the promo, and my fingers got stronger from all the tweets damn.” Garcia has sold the fight the most, and coming into it, he knew he would have to, which is why he’s favored on the split 55/45. This fight isn’t for the hardcore fans but more so the casual ones who know Garcia as a boxing star and could care less about the details underneath that. Garcia knew at the start of the week that he wasn’t going to make weight, but it was all about keeping a poker face and forcing Haney to kill himself to make 140.

After making a mockery of the ceremonial weigh-in, Garcia did everything that would make him trend on social media: Drink a beverage on the scale and rush Haney during the face-to-face, screaming all types of insults. Whether all of the lead-up antics benefit Garcia or backfires is unknown, but it makes for a highly anticipated fight. Now the fight has gone up even another level, come tomorrow night, this will be the most discussed and viewed sporting event, maybe worldwide. Buckle up as Haney vs Garcia is coming to you Saturday night live on DAZN PPV and PPV.com.