Garcia VS Haney: A Mental Difference

In light of the upcoming boxing match between Ryan “King Ryan” Garcia and Devin “The Dream” Haney, I would like to write about how mentality can surpass athleticism, even in the highest levels of sports.

When assessing natural talent alone, it’s evident that Ryan Garcia surpasses Devin Haney. Power, speed, resilience, and stature—all favor Garcia. His power speaks for itself; even Canelo Alvarez acknowledges Garcia’s knockout prowess, comparing it to that of boxers in the light heavyweight division. His left hook speed is unparalleled, sometimes requiring slow-motion playback to fully grasp its swiftness. Moreover, his resilience is remarkable, bouncing back from Luke Campbell’s punch within seconds. Standing at 178cm, Garcia’s height is advantageous.

In contrast, Haney struggles to develop power despite rigorous training. Even his detractors acknowledge his relentless dedication to training. Yet, he remains unable to escape his lackluster punching power, which would only worsen in higher weight classes. His punch speed isn’t remarkably fast either, and his resilience falls short. In a fight with Jorge Linares, Haney struggled to recover fully from a punch just before the round ended, affecting his performance in subsequent rounds. Standing at 173cm, Haney’s stature is average.

Both athletes followed elite paths from their amateur days, competing at national levels. What’s intriguing is their 3:3 tied record, with Haney gaining ground as he aged, despite Garcia’s initial dominance. This indicates Haney’s ability to surpass Garcia through sheer effort despite his inherent shortcomings.

Upon turning professional, both athletes shared a common trait: admiring and learning from prominent figures in the sport. Haney looked up to Terence Crawford, whereas Garcia idolized Canelo Alvarez. Both mentors not only imparted skills but also provided unwavering support, aiding in their protégés’ commercial and technical growth.

However, a significant divergence occurred here. Haney diligently followed Crawford’s lead, pushing himself beyond conventional training limits. He even surpassed Crawford’s training intensity independently. In contrast, Garcia struggled to keep up with training schedules and eventually reduced his gym attendance. While Haney continued to embrace Crawford’s mentorship and recently appointed him as his new trainer, Garcia expressed frustration over perceived lack of understanding regarding his depression, leading to a sour parting and trash-talking.

Haney consistently shares training videos and eagerly accepts matches, whereas Garcia indulges in provocative interviews, hinting at pursuing MMA or UFC after retiring from boxing.

Their divergent mentalities manifest vividly. It’s almost certain that if they were to face each other, Haney would emerge victorious in most scenarios. This was evident when Haney welcomed Garcia’s challenge for the WBC mandatory contender spot, whereas Garcia hesitated, ultimately avoiding the matchup altogether.

This serves as a stark example of how mentality profoundly impacts elite sports. Let this be a reminder to aspiring athletes: hard work overcomes talent.