Ryan Garcia Opens Up About Asking Devin Haney to ‘Look Past the Hate’

Did the ghost of a controversial decision in boxing just rear its head once more? Fresh in the minds of fight fans is the high-stakes bout where Vasiliy Lomachenko, the three-division champion, supposedly outworked and out-landed the undisputed lightweight kingpin, Devin Haney, only to be declared the loser. A verdict that left many eyebrows raised, keyboards flaming, and fists clenched. Now, a new perspective enters the arena, one that promises to ignite the debate even further.

Enter Ryan Garcia, an ascendant boxing superstar with lightning-fast hands and a social media presence to match. Garcia, who recently faced his own fiery bout against Gervonta Davis, breaks his silence on the Lomachenko-Haney controversy in a candid discussion. But what he said might just leave you gobsmacked. Buckle up; this isn’t your typical ringside chat.

A ringside perspective: The thoughts of Ryan Garcia on the controversial bout

Ryan Garcia, with an air of sincerity and concern for the sport, shared his insights into the intense fight between Haney and Lomachenko. “I was there. I thought Loma edged it out,” Garcia said on fitness influencer Bradley Martyn’s YouTube channel.

Read more: Vasyl Lomachenko Believes That Devin Haney ‘Understands His Level’ After Fighting Him

He had strong words about the controversial decision, adding, “People say, ‘Oh, don’t call it robbery.’ Okay, but when somebody deserved to win, that’s still somewhat of a robbery, even if it’s by one point or two points. [Lomachenko] probably should have won.”

Garcia didn’t just observe the fight as a passive spectator, he studied it, critiquing both fighters’ performances. “From what I saw up close, Loma landed the more effective shots. He was hitting him cleaner. Devin was just kind of posing a lot, like, you know, jab, but it wasn’t really clear.”

Garcia’s respect for Haney amid the dispute

But Garcia’s comments were not limited to the ring. He also reached out to Haney after the match. “I messaged [Haney]. I said, ‘yo, bro, I thought Loma edged it out but try to look past the hate that you’ve been taking on and just look forward.“

Despite expressing his view on who he believed deserved to win, Garcia was careful not to undermine Haney. “I don’t want to take anything away from Devin,” he stated, reinforcing the mutual respect and sportsmanship intrinsic to the boxing world.

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But now, the question shifts to you. What’s your take on the fight? Do you think Lomachenko was robbed of his victory, or do you stand with the official decision? We encourage you to jump into the ring of this discussion and share your views in the comment section below.