Ryan Garcia has made a bold move by agreeing to pay WBC light welterweight champion Devin Haney $500,000 per pound if he exceeds the 140-pound weight limit at Friday’s weigh-in before their Saturday night fight. Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) and Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) sealed the deal with a handshake. So, what is Ryan’s strategy here?
(Photo by Golden Boy / Chris Esqueda)
Unilateral Wagering
This bet seems one-sided and risky as only Haney stands to gain financially, leaving Ryan with nothing. It appears to be a generous but unwise gamble on Ryan’s part. Unless Ryan can profit from making weight, this bet seems illogical and imprudent.
Haney’s Weight Challenge
Haney has been struggling with his weight and had to resort to fluids to reach 165 pounds. The bet stipulated that Haney must not exceed 155 pounds after rehydrating. While still a significant weight advantage over 140 pounds, the requirement of 155 pounds is not as extreme as going up to 165 pounds.
Ryan is aiming to limit Haney’s rehydrated weight to 155 pounds, which while advantageous to Haney, is not as deceptive as bulking up to 165 pounds and entering the ring as a much heavier super middleweight.
Recurrence of Past Events: Gervonta Davis’ Situation
This scenario may echo Ryan’s previous experience when he agreed to a weight condition against Gervonta Davis last year. Despite risks to his health, Ryan accepted the fight with Tank and eventually had to throw in the towel. It appears that Ryan might be too trusting. Engaging in a bet with Haney may prove futile unless it yields some benefits. It would be regrettable if Ryan’s decision led to a financial loss of $500,000.
