In a dramatic turn of events, Devin Haney’s mother, Billie Johnson, fainted at ringside as Ryan Garcia scored a heavy knockdown in the fifth round of their highly anticipated boxing match.
The bout, which took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, saw Garcia dominate the early rounds, using his lightning-quick combos to keep Haney at bay. The 24-year-old Californian’s aggressive approach paid off in the fifth, when he landed a crushing left hook that sent Haney crashing to the canvas.
As Garcia celebrated, Haney’s mother, who was seated ringside, suddenly slumped forward, overcome with emotion. Witnesses reported that Johnson, who has been a constant presence in her son’s corner throughout his career, was quickly attended to by medical staff and eventually recovered.
Meanwhile, Garcia’s corner erupted in jubilation, with his trainer, Eddy Reynoso, shouting “Wroooooooooooooool!” as Garcia celebrated his dominance.
The knockdown proved to be a turning point in the fight, as Garcia went on to win by unanimous decision, taking all three judges’ scorecards with scores of 116-111, 117-110, and 118-109.
Garcia, who earned around $50 million for the bout (including his 12$M bet), praised Haney’s toughness after the fight. “Devin is a great fighter, and I knew it was going to be a tough fight,” Garcia said. “I’m just glad I could come out on top.”
Haney, who received a guaranteed $4 million, was gracious in defeat, acknowledging that Garcia was the better man on the night. “Ryan was the better fighter tonight,” Haney said. “I’ll be back, and I’ll learn from this.”
The victory moves Garcia’s record to 23-0, while Haney falls to 29-1.
The highly anticipated bout was one of the most lucrative in recent boxing history, with the live gate exceeding $3.5 million and pay-per-view numbers expected to be substantial.
In the end, it was Garcia’s night, as he proved himself to be one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world. As he stood victorious in the ring, his trainer’s ecstatic “Wroooooooooooooool!” still echoing in the air, it was clear that Garcia had made a statement – and cemented his status as a force to be reckoned with in the boxing world.