Devin Haney‘s lawsuit against Ryan Garcia has largely divided the fans along different lines. Some commend him for taking action against an adversary who tested positive for banned substances. Notwithstanding the loss he suffered, the way it was inflicted took a heavy toll on his reputation. Hence, he deserves the claim for damages. But then a few disagree. The fight occurred under a mutually agreed contract. Ryan Garcia faced punitive actions for his transgressions.

The matter is being passionately debated across social media. No prizes for guessing; a few would find ways to have fun amid the intense deliberations. So for those not on board with Haney’s move, it seems, one of the standout features to take a jibe remains the way Garcia knocked him down. By the time their duel reached the final bell, using his trademark left hook, ‘KingRy’ had dropped ‘The Dream’ three times. No wonder multiple fans started throwing barbs after viewing footage of their amateur fight.

Devin Haney: A flash from the past

Boxing Kingdom shared a short clip that barely lasted three seconds. Their post read, “Ryan Garcia catches Devin Haney with a big left hook in the amateurs.” It presumably features Garcia and Haney in an amateur duel. As most fans might be aware, the rivalry between the two boxing stars goes back years.

Though it might appear a bit sketchy, most available sources seem to be in consensus that they fought six times, each winning three of the bouts. It’s unclear from which one of those fights the Boxing Kingdom clip originated.

Nevertheless, as the video shows, Devin Haney, in a red vest and shorts, charged at Ryan Garcia, in a white vest with a led-hand jab. He quickly followed it with a straight right. It pushed Garcia towards the ropes. But revealing adeptness, ‘KingRy’ moved aside, towards his left. But simultaneously he threw his deadly left hook that connected neatly. It clearly shook Haney, but he promptly regrouped and moved away.

Left and out

Let’s check what a few fans had to say about the short encounter.

Highlighting Haney’s vulnerability against left hooks, this fan humorously pointed out how it might have been a recurring issue with ‘The Dream’. They said, “Son has been catching that left for at least 12 years.”

The next fan utilized the opportunity to highlight Ryan Garcia’s potential. Questioning the broader consensus between Garcia and Haney, they wondered how many fans and followers missed the details. “Ryan has always been better than Devin; how did people not realize it?”

Ryan Garcia’s remarks about the lawsuit situation, which he shared via an Instagram post, seem to have impacted this fan. They simply uttered, “Left hook syndrome proof.”

Then, highlighting the power of Ryan Garcia’s left hook, this user suggested that had it been a fight without protective gear, Haney’s situation might have been similar to what occurred on April 20. This is what the user said, “Woulda been on the canvas if not for that head gear and the gloves…”

This follower reinforced that ‘KingRy’ is the superior boxer expressing strong support for Ryan Garcia,. He will always edge out Haney, irrespective of the number of times they square off. “Ryan’s always been more skilled [than] Devin. If they fight 10 times, Ryan likely wins 9 times out of 10,” said the fan.

But as one of the users pointed out, it is just a piece of footage from a fight. It’s uncertain who eventually won that bout—Garcia or Haney.

Jokes aside, Devin Haney’s legal proceedings against Ryan Garcia have drawn some sharp reactions from experts as well. But there are also a few, like Eddie Hearn, who feel it might prove a landmark event in boxing. Fans will eagerly await as the situation unfolds over the coming days and weeks.

What is your view? Is it fair to judge a boxer’s prowess based on his susceptibility to a particular line of attack?