Andre Rozier, coach of boxer Sergiy Derevyanchenko, highlighted a key factor in Ryan Garcia's (25-1, 20 KOs) victory over WBC super lightweight (up to 63,5 kg) champion Devin Haney (31-1, 15 KOs).
"It wasn't just about the 3 pounds (1.36 kg). He didn't intend to make weight. He didn’t have to sacrifice and suffer to fit into the limit.
So, he was truly comfortable where he was, and what did he do? After that, he got even bigger. By the way, a fantastic move. A magnificent maneuver, excellent strategy. He wasn’t concerned about the title. He just wanted to win the fight.
For Garcia, it's a specific victory because he was supposed to fight for the title but didn’t make the weight. One fighter did, and the other didn’t. Undoubtedly, this casts a shadow on his victory," said Rozier.
On April 21st, Ryan Garcia defeated Devin Haney. Despite the loss, Devin remains the WBC champion, as Ryan did not meet the weight category and was not eligible for the title.