Ryan Garcia is gearing up for the biggest fight of his career against Devin Haney. Ahead of the fight, there has been a lot of talk and drama involving numerous parties. However, it would seem that a couple of well-known UFC fighters have also become a part of this ordeal.
Recently, there has been a lot of controversy in the Haney-Garcia fight buildup. With the involvement of Floyd Mayweather, Gervonta Davis, and Bill Haney, the matter has escalated tenfold in a matter of days. Safe to say, it is building up to be one of the most exciting fights in the world of boxing, especially in recent times.
I will give you 10 trillion dollars if you do this Nate @NateDiaz209 pic.twitter.com/gZNqo93hEj
— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) March 1, 2024
Amidst all this, ‘KingRy’ is also plotting his future moves and has started building friendships, branching out into different sports. As such, many were left stunned to hear about the boxer’s friendship with UFC superstar Nate Diaz. Taking to X, Ryan wrote, “I will give you 10 trillion dollars if you do this Nate @NateDiaz209,” a no weed challenge on February 30 and 31, two dates that do not exist.
Ryan Garcia wishes to train with Alex Pereira, Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz
As such, Ryan Garcia and Nate Diaz‘s friendship has even seen the two exchanging jokes on social media. In a recent interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Garcia revealed how the two had linked up. For the most part, Garcia finds Nate to be a very likable, and humorous individual, one that he now considers as a friend.
Additionally, the 25-year-old boxer is also planning to branch out into a different sport and test himself against a different variety of opponents. With intentions to fight Sean O’Malley, Garcia has stated that he is open to step inside the Octagon as well. However, in order to do that he will need to learn from some of the biggest names in the sport.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani, Ryan stated, “I told Nate to train me a little bit”. Further, he added, “I would train with everyone, I would even ask Conor to let me train with them for a little bit. Every month will be a new coach. Conor, Alex Pereira, Nate, and somebody else, that would be sick”. Thus, Ryan despite the wealth and fame he has amassed, he is still ambitious to further branch out, and pick a challenge.
Ryan Garcia’s shocking admission at the press conference
In the meantime, one of the biggest talking points regarding Ryan Garcia recently has been his off-key demeanor. During his interaction with Devin Haney at the ESPN First Take preview, many pointed out that the fighter did not seem like himself, appearing more restless and ‘on edge’ than he has been in the past. Moreover, this was followed by his posting his current girlfriend, Mikaela Testa, out of the blue.
Thereafter, the boxer took to social media to post a picture of a joint, which prompted Devin Haney to claim that Garcia was not serious about their upcoming fight. Shortly afterward, the two also exchanged words at their press conference wherein Ryan made a shocking admission. “I don’t do cocaine, I will do a live drug test. I drink and I smoke weed, so has the majority of this room”.
Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia clashing at today’s press conference ahead of April 20th: “I don’t do cocaine. I drink and I smoke weed.”
[🎥 @DAZNBoxing] pic.twitter.com/LZLhmUrvzc
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) February 29, 2024
Despite his honesty, Haney was not impressed and further criticized his opponent for his habits. According to ‘The Dream’ Garcia was not an ideal fighter or a role model for the younger generations. For the most part, Ryan’s new habits could be the reason behind his erratic behaviors. With that said, whether or not it affects him in their upcoming fight, only time will tell.