Carl Froch has not held back in his disappointment at Ryan Garcia for the American fighters’ recent failed drug tests saying ‘I’m genuinely angry.’
Garcia has had a rollercoaster few weeks. In the lead-up to his fight with Devin Haney for the WBC world super lightweight title on April 20, he exhibited some worrying behaviour that had the world concerned for his mental state.
Amidst plenty of the usual verbal sparring, he made some wild accusations and spoke about everything from ticket prices to Haney’s career motivation.
He failed to make the weight come the weekend of the fight and even drank a beer during the ceremonial weigh-in having admitted to smoking and drinking all through camp.
Come fight night, the popular King Ry proved to have his head in the game and put on a superb showing that included putting Haney down no fewer than three times with his famously fast and potent lead left hook.
Just a few days later, news emerged that he failed tests before and after the fight and since then he has proclaimed his innocence.
Speaking on his own podcast, Froch on Fighting, The Cobra expressed his annoyance at Garcia’s failures.
“Well that’s a big subject, Garcia failing his drug test for the fight against Devin Haney. What a fight that was. I was so proud of Garcia because he did the job. He did what he said he would do and no one expected it.
“Apparently, Vegas lost a fortune cause Haney was odds-on favourite and Garcia beat him up. Some of the rounds were close, and at times Haney’s boxing ability was winning him the rounds but Garcia dropped him officially three times.
“Didn’t finish it off because one of the judges had a it draw. It was not a draw. It was a clear win by Ryan Garcia. He beat up Haney. Now he’s failed a drug test, I’m really f***ing pissed off, genuinely angry.”
He was then asked if he thought the allegations were true, which Garcia has claimed are not.
“He’s saying it was set up, someone’s been paid, but listen, can you get to VADA, a drug testing agency, and can you get to them and let them make you fail a drug test. I don’t think so. They sign up to VADA because they can get ranked by the WBC, not that he needs a ranking because he’s a world-level athlete.
“I’m tending to believe him in terms of he hasn’t knowingly taken drugs. I don’t think there is something going on in the background that he’s clean and it’s come back failed, I think what might have happened is that somehow it’s got in his system and he’s got spiked, something in his supplements he doesn’t know about. Maybe he’s drunk something.
“It was a fairly conducted test, he’s not been spiked, has he had some contamination in it that will come out. He’s got to go through that process now like Conor Benn, who is really strongly denying it, and he says he is innocent and I believe him, but he failed a drug test and now he’s got to go down that road. Ryan Garcia has the world at his feet and now he’s looking like he’s going to get a ban.”
Garcia has continued to protest his innocence, while Eddie Hearn has recently revealed the action Haney wants to be taken again his former opponent.
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