Fresh off his upset 12-round unanimous decision victory over WBC light welterweight champion Devin Haney (31-1, 15 KOs) last Saturday night, underdog Ryan Garcia (25-1, 20 KOs) , felt that the referee prevented the score from being scored. 7th round knockout at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Surprisingly, referee Harvey Dock only counted one of Garcia's four knockdowns in the seventh round against favorite Haney. More importantly, after the first knockdown, the referee stopped the action and deducted points from Ryan for hitting the break without warning Ryan.
7th round controversy
Ryan was frustrated with how the seventh round unfolded and felt he didn't get the knockout.
- If you miss a knockdown: Ryan knocked Haney four times in the seventh round, but the referee only counted one of them.
Premature deduction: Referee Harvey Dock stopped the match in the seventh inning and penalized Ryan for a break hit, but did not warn Ryan before doing so.
Haney's recovery: The time it took for the referee to take the point from Ryan for the hit on the break seemed to be enough for Ryan to recover from the knockdown that had occurred moments before. - Devin's holdings: Haney clinched too much in the seventh, but received no warning or penalty for this. Fans felt the referee should have at least given Devin a warning.
Fortunately for Ryan, the umpire's actions in the seventh inning did not affect the game. He knocked Haney down in the 10th and 11th rounds, winning by scores of 115-109, 114-110, and 112-112.
Ryan calls it like he sees it
“I think the referee should have stopped the match.” [in round seven].he [Haney] I was really hurt,” Ryan said after the contest.
“That one [Haney] Having held me for dear life, I felt I had the opportunity to continue swinging while my hands were free. I should have knocked him out in the seventh round. They stole it from me,” Ryan said.
In some cases, referees may have to let fighters fight without micromanaging them. Last night, Doc should have let Ryan slip with a blow during the break.
Again, the referee should have taken the initiative because Haney's non-stop clinch saved his skin and he was not knocked out from the 7th round where he was seriously injured until the 12th round. It's done. It was also very problematic that the referee didn't give Ryan credit for giving up three more knockdowns in the seventh.
