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Ryan Garcia seemed to admit that he placed a huge bet on himself to beat Devin Haney.
In an Instagram post on Monday, Garcia referenced the $2 million bet he placed on the fight and shared multiple screenshots that paid out $12 million.
“If you’re going to bet, bet on yourself,” he wrote in the caption. “On top of what we made. We’re eating delicious food.”
Michael Benson @MichaelBenson
Ryan Garcia admitted on Instagram today that he bet $2 million on himself to beat Devin Haney… pic.twitter.com/a7ou1mDkyP
Garcia entered the fight as the clear underdog, but earned that status in no small part due to his actions. on social media and in public prior to the event. At the weigh-in, he was 3.2 pounds over the 140-pound weight limit and drank a beer bottle on stage.
Momo @momo_momo
Ryan Garcia (+600 ML) chugged beer during the ceremonial weigh-in 😭
(via @BOXINGnBBQ< /a>) pic.twitter.com/kKlOBlMGpE
Garcia had told Haney he would be paid $500,000 for every pound he weighed, so the failed weight loss cost him $1.5 million.
Devin Haney @Realdevinhaney
Ryan honored 500,000 per pound.
In an ESPN interview mike coppingerHaney called Garcia a “fucking clown” and sounded exasperated by the way things had unfolded.
“We’re here now and that’s all that matters,” he said. “What he’s doing is not normal. There’s obviously something wrong with him. But it doesn’t matter what he’s trying to do outside the ring. It doesn’t matter what you do.”
Now, it’s worth wondering to what extent Garcia’s antics were intended to make people see him as having even greater potential. Because the general lack of focus he’s been showing in recent weeks was nowhere to be seen once he was in the ring.
He dominated the previously undefeated Haney, knocking down the lightweight champion three times. At CompuBox, he landed more than twice as many power punches (95) as Haney (45).
Garcia picked up the biggest win of his career on Saturday in Brooklyn, New York. Haney’s upsetting numbers pay big dividends in more ways than one. Even though he makes a profit of $10 million from a $2 million bet, that’s just the beginning.
