Fighter of the Week (4/15-4/21): Ryan Garcia

"King" Ryan Garcia walked into the ring at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, a +500 underdog. He missed weight badly and was thought to be clinically insane by everyone in the boxing community. He walked out of the ring without a belt but perhaps with the "Performance of the Year" and perhaps as the face of boxing with a victory on the biggest event of 2024 thus far. The Victorville, California, native annihilated Devin Haney moved his record to 25-1 (20), picked up a career-changing and career-defining win, changed the narrative of his entire career, and took home our "Fighter of the Week" award. 

It was obvious that Haney was going to outclass and school Garcia. Then the first minute of the fight happened, and Garcia rocked Haney with a left hook. Haney hung on and showed grit. He got into a rhythm and out-boxed Garcia in rounds two through five. Things changed in the sixth, and the Victorville native showed some life, scoring with the left hook late in the round. The wheels came off for Haney in the seventh, the signature left hook put Haney down. Garcia went for the kill and was deducted a point for hitting on the break but had the champ in trouble for the remainder of the round. Haney was never really a threat again. He hit the canvas two more times and dropped the fight as Garcia gloated and danced as the final bell rang. The decisions came in 115-109 and 114-110 for Garcia and a silly 112-112 scorecard. 

Garcia now sits in the catbird seat as we await to see the final Pay Per View numbers, Garcia is one of, if not, the biggest and brightest young stars in the sport. He can select his opponents. While a rematch is the most likely next step. Garcia can do what he wishes, and everything at 140 to 147 is on the table, and that includes showdowns with Teofimo Lopez, Boots Ennis, a rematch with Tank Davis, or the winner of the Stanionis vs Maestre WBA title bout. Garcia has earned the position he now sits in.