Ryan Garcia has made headlines for all the wrong reasons over the past few weeks.
Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs), a popular super lightweight contender, has posted videos of himself drinking alcohol and holding what appears to be marijuana, while also posting statements so bizarre that the New York State Athletic Commission has stepped in and requested the fighter undergo a mental health evaluation.
Fellow 140-pound contender Michel “La Zarza Ali” Rivera can’t help but shake his head at the lead-up to Garcia’s April 20 date with Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KOs), a pay-per-view showdown scheduled to take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Rivera (25-1, 14 KOs) believes that whether Garcia’s head is right or not, the fight is just a money grab and won’t be very competitive.
“Let’s be honest here,” Rivera told Boxing Scene. “Everyone knows Haney will mop the floor with Garcia. Garcia may have a lot of followers, but he is overrated as a fighter. Haney will win the fight easy.”
Rivera, a 26-year-old from the Dominican Republic, is a disciplined fighter who can be frequently seen in the gym whether or not he has a fight on the horizon. He said that he is more than able to step in for Garcia should he fall out of the fight for any reason.
“Boxing fans know that a fight between Haney and me would be very competitive,” Rivera said. “I am focused and have been training. No one knows if crazy Ryan Garcia will even step in the ring on April 20th. And even if he does, what kind of shape is he in? Where is his head at? Is he even really training hard? I am the biggest threat to Haney at 140 pounds, and ready to step in for Garcia. All Haney’s team has to do is call my team, and I will be more than happy to take his belt.”
Rivera was last in action in November when he defeated former champion Sergey Lipinets via unanimous decision.