Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia had all the markings of a PPV blockbuster. It had bad blood, a rivalry going back to their childhood, and the social media shenanigans that had helped it build traction. But eventually, it could only muster modest business, and the outside-the-ring controversies riddled it. Therefore, the question remains. What went wrong? Well, Eddie Hearn has the answers to your question.

Notably, Haney vs. Garcia could only reportedly sell 400k–500k PPVs, which fell short of promoters’ expectations. Then there were concerns about Garcia, 26, failing to show up on fight night and making the weight. But it was doomed to fail the moment the negotiations began. Hearn, 45, in a conversation with Andre Ward at ‘All Fight Smoke’, pointed out that both fighters gambled on the fight after putting Gervonta Davis and ‘KingRy’s fight as a reference point.

The British promoter said, “I mean, both guys, you talk about minimums. Both guys rolled a dice on the numbers with no minimums. Because they saw Garcia-Tank and saw the numbers, and presumed it would replicate a similar model.” However, that didn’t turn out to be the case, especially for Haney, 25, who wanted to get a huge payday. In addition, Hearn then expanded on the mistake that the WBC champion and his camp made ahead of the fight, which resulted in a disastrous night for them.

The Matchroom lynchpin touches upon the debacle during the weigh-ins, the shortcomings in the fight camp, and Haney’s attitude. He continued, “You know, there were mistakes in the fight. There were mistakes around the weigh-in. There were mistakes around the preparation. I respect that and I like the kid a lot, you know. But sometimes I think, you know this as well, like you can lose your direction a little bit in terms of you think now you’re that big that you know all the right decisions to make.”

Hearn’s judgment of Haney vs. Garcia got backing from Jake Paul‘s trainer, BJ Flores. The American trainer turned to his X handle, shared the clip of Hearn’s comments, and wrote, “100%.”

Most importantly, the decision by Haney’s camp to green-light the fight after Garcia came 3 pounds above the weight limit raised eyebrows. The weight difference made a stark difference in the fight, as the champion found himself on the canvas three times. It seems it was a smart ploy by Garcia, and if Ward is to be believed, Floyd Mayweather should be credited for it.

Andre Ward reveals Floyd Mayweather’s advice to Ryan Garcia

Ward, 40, in the same conversation with Hearn, admitted that he was aware of Garcia’s weight struggles. But the former world champion specifically emphasized the statement of the 24-1 record holder, he disclosed that Mayweather had asked him not to shed the extra three pounds. The American fighter declared, “I know he had some weight issues, and Ryan said that Floyd Mayweather told him not to get that three pounds off.”

The controversy surrounding the Haney vs. Garcia fight hasn’t subsided, as the latter finds himself serving a year-long ban for PED abuse. However, there are rumors of a rematch between the two, and it remains to be seen whether that happens or not.

What do you make of these comments by Eddie Hearn about the Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia fight? Do you agree with him? Let us know in the comments below.