Months before the match, Garcia was advised by Mayweather to consider fighting WBA champion Rolando Romero, seen as an easier target. However, after talks with Romero collapsed, Garcia faced Haney in a major pay-per-view event held this year. Concerns were raised about Garcia's fitness after he displayed unusual behavior, including drinking what appeared to be beer during the weigh-in. Weighing in at 143.2lbs made him ineligible to win Haney's title regardless of the match outcome.
During the fight against Haney, Garcia delivered three knockdowns and earned a majority-decision victory despite coming into the contest over the weight limit—a strategy proposed by Mayweather.
"Floyd told me to come in over 3lbs. He told me 'f**k Bill Haney'. Whatever."
The bout's aftermath saw heightened tensions between Mayweather and Bill Haney due to past disputes and sparring incidents between their camps. Despite his support for Garcia, Mayweather offered kind words and guidance to Devin Haney post-defeat.
Looking ahead, Devin Haney might move up to the welterweight division due to difficulties making weight at 140lbs. On the other hand, Ryan Garcia has several potential paths forward including a rematch with Haney, a title bid against IBF world champion Jaron Ennis or moving up to 154lbs division—all expected to be confirmed soon.