Eddie Hearn has lifted the lid on a rehydration request that he wanted put in place for Ryan Garcia ahead of his upset win over Devin Haney on Saturday.
Garcia shocked the world by knocking down Haney three times on his way to a majority points decision win at the Barclays Centre this past weekend.
Despite the victory, he did not become the WBC super lightweight champion because he failed to make weight, so Haney retained his belt despite the loss.
Speaking via Boxing News, Hearn revealed details about conversations between him and Haney’s camp with regards a fight day weigh-in to asses how much Garcia had rehydrated.
“From our side, from Matchroom’s side, we felt there should have been a re-weigh in on Saturday. It was chosen not to be pushed and I feel that was a mistake, but I also understand that Devin rehydrates to massive numbers.
“But it’s got nothing to do with Devin, I’ve seen it happen in that situation, I’ve been there 50 times on both sides of the street there when someone misses weight. You always get the fighter to rehydrate on a Saturday. A lot of time they don’t want to do it, of course, but it’s how far you can push them.”
Hearn then suggested that had Haney’s side pushed that, the fight might have ended up not happening.
“Now maybe Ryan Garcia was the type of guy who would have walked away and gone OK, don’t worry about it I won’t fight, and I’m sure that was a concern for Bill [Haney]. Bill wanted the fight, everybody thought they could win the fight regardless of the weight.
“Of course the financial penalty was there but Bill also thought Devin rehydrates to massive numbers we don’t really want to weigh in either but you shouldn’t have to, cause Ryan’s the guy that missed the weight.
“Hindsight’s a great thing. If they’ve had have pushed the Saturday weigh in there’s a good chance that the fight wouldn’t have taken place and obviously Bill didn’t want that and Devin didn’t want that but obviously on the night it’s a massive advantage, it’s like you’re fighting a middleweight in there and I would love to know what Ryan weighted as he walk to the ring that night.”
Since the fight, Garcia has suggested he might well move up again, while Haney is keen to have a rematch with both men at the correct championship weight.
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