A method to the madness - Ryan Garcia stuns boxing world by upsetting Devin Haney

Crazy like a fox, Ryan Garcia proved that when your left hook is lethal, all bets are off.   

Garcia knocked Devin Haney down three times to secure an unexpected majority decision victory Saturday night at Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, New York. 

Many had predicted that Garcia would lose badly, perhaps get knocked out or quit on his stool. 

Instead, in the opening stanza, Garcia landed a crisp left hook on Haney’s chin, causing the two-time champion to wobble as if the ring was tilting.   

Haney recovered well and popped his jab, but his fear of Garcia’s left hook was real. He took over in rounds two and three, tagging Garcia (25-1, 20 KOs) with shots behind a sharp jab and feinting him out of position. Haney controlled rounds four and five as Garcia tried to use a shoulder roll defense. The tactic was ineffective. 

Haney had banked four rounds in succession. Was Garcia worried?

Hardly, power can always be the great equalizer. Garcia fought more aggressively and appeared to hurt Haney in round six, but his momentum stalled. His left hook from the opening stanza returned dramatically in round seven. 

Backing off as he had for several rounds, he let the big hook go, planting Haney on the canvas for the first time in his career. 

Haney, hurt, struggled for a few seconds to get up. When he did, he held on to Garcia like a baby would his mama–frustrating Garcia, who lost his cool and punched on the break.

The result was a point reduction from referee Harvey Dock. Haney withstood Garcia’s onslaught in round eight. He came back to tag Garcia with right hands that lacked zip. 

Garcia turned his back again to defend himself in round nine. Haney pounded his ribs. The move, used in Garcia’s previous fight as well, is odd. 

Asked about it after the match, Garcia said, “I don’t know. I have ADHD, so I just start doing random things."

In round 10, a combination, punctuated by a left hook, floors Haney for a second time. The gutsy champ gets up only to be staggered a few seconds later. 

With two rounds to go, the rollercoaster fight had peaked. Garcia finds the energy to floor Haney one more time in round 11, from what else, a left hook.

He again tries to finish matters but cannot. In the 12th and final round, Garcia cruises and sticks out his tongue as Haney chases him.

Scores were 112-112,115-109, and 114-110 for Garcia.

Maxboxing tabbed Garcia, the winner by a 114-110 tally. 

Garcia talked about his left hook after the fight. 

“My left hook is my left hook,” Garcia said afterward." "When it lands, it can put you out or down.”

Haney still looked stunned after suffering the first loss of his career. 

“I’m disappointed in my performance,” he said. “I showed I was a true champion, fighting after being knocked down and hurt.”

A sequel could be in the making. 

“Come on guys, you really thought I was crazy?” Garcia said with a grin. .
“You done lost your own mind.”

Crazy is as crazy does.