Ryan Garcia pulled off a surprising victory against Devin Haney in Brooklyn on April 20, despite being a heavy underdog. The fight was originally intended to be for the WBC super lightweight championship, but Garcia weighed in three pounds over the limit, meaning the belt was not up for grabs. However, Garcia still managed to win by a majority decision. Unfortunately, Garcia tested positive for ostarine, a banned substance, on the day before and the day of the fight, according to ESPN.
Garcia denied taking any banned substances, claiming that he has never taken a steroid in his life and does not know where to get them. Ostarine is not a steroid but can stimulate muscle growth. Conor McGregor criticized Garcia’s actions, stating that he believes Garcia should be punished for cheating. McGregor supported Garcia in the past, but now seems to have changed his opinion. The fight results could be overturned if Garcia’s positive drug test is confirmed. Garcia knocked Haney down three times during the fight, delivering the WBC super lightweight champion his first loss.
The controversy surrounding the fight continued outside the ring, as the two fighters had an altercation at a press event at the Empire State Building days before the fight. This incident led to the cancellation of their plans to throw out the first pitch at a New York Mets game that evening. The Associated Press provided additional details about the event. It remains to be seen how the positive drug test will impact Garcia’s victory, as his win could potentially be overturned if the test results are confirmed.
Despite the victory, Garcia’s reputation may be tarnished if the positive drug test results hold up. McGregor’s condemnation of Garcia’s actions could impact the boxer’s standing in the sport. The controversy surrounding the fight, including the altercation between the two fighters at a press event, added to the buzz surrounding the match. The potential consequences of Garcia’s positive drug test could result in a tarnished victory and further scrutiny of his actions leading up to the fight. Overall, the outcome of the fight remains clouded by the allegations of banned substances and the actions of the fighters outside the ring.
