Atlas on Ryan's Behavior: "It's Alarming"

Renowned American trainer Teddy Atlas has expressed concern about the psychological state of junior welterweight boxer (up to 63.5 kg) Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) ahead of his championship showdown against WBC titleholder Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KOs).

"If you are a commission (referring to the New York State Athletic Commission), and you are not mandating him to see qualified psychiatrists for an evaluation, then shut the commission down. Why are taxpayers footing the bill for this commission if they're behaving this way in this situation?

Garcia's condition is alarming. It's appalling. He's smoking marijuana, drinking alcohol, and claiming he was abducted by a group who took him into the woods and made him watch as they assaulted little children. When a guy, who has a serious fight ahead of him, is in such a psychological state – something needs to be done about it," Atlas said to ProBox TV.

The showdown between Garcia and Haney is scheduled for April 20th in New York. Previously, Shakur Stevenson stated that he is ready to replace Ryan if he withdraws from the fight. Oscar De La Hoya, Garcia's promoter, asserts that his boxer is perfectly fine.