Remember that epic fight between Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney? The one where Garcia landed blow after blow, leaving Haney’s face a swollen mess? Everyone focused on the power of Garcia’s left hook, figuring that was the culprit. But what if there’s more to the story?

Ryan Garcia’s trainer, Derrick James, recently spilled some tea on a podcast, claiming the left hook wasn’t the real reason behind Haney’s one-sided swelling. So, what was it? And does this change how we view the fight?

Was the left hook of Ryan Garcia a decoy?

Derrick James isn’t buying the whole “left hook did it all” narrative. He insists in a recent interview that the true culprit behind Haney’s unrecognizable face was actually something else entirely. According to James, the fight wasn’t just about Garcia’s flashy left hook; it was about a relentless jab and, surprisingly, the straight right hand. James said, “If you look at him after the fight is over, the left side of his face is just swollen. So the story is not the left hook. The story was the straight right hand, and it just kept happening over and over again.”

It suggests a more strategic approach by Garcia’s team than many anticipated. Remember, Garcia was viewed as the wild puncher going up against the technically sound Haney. James’s remarks imply that their strategy was to use the jab to penetrate Haney’s defenses and then take advantage of gaps with the straight right.

It’s worth noting that Devin Haney himself downplayed the severity of the injury. After the fight, he assured fans on social media that he didn’t suffer any broken bones. “Fought like a true champion,” he wrote, “Got up off the canvas & kept fighting. I am 100% okay and would love to do it again while we both make weight.”

However, Derrick James disagreed with Devin Haney being 100% okay.

James claims brutal beating will be tough to overcome

Derrick James had some straightforward thoughts after Ryan Garcia’s win over Devin Haney. “Did you see his face? It was crazy how much he got beat up. I didn’t believe it,” James shared, highlighting the severity of Haney’s swelling. He speculated that an early knockout might have spared Haney some damage.

“Honestly, it might have been better for him to get knocked out early. Recovering from that kind of beating? That’s gonna be tough,” James remarked. He acknowledged Haney’s grit but didn’t sugarcoat the challenge ahead. “He’s young, he’s good, he can come back hungry,” he said.

Should Bill Haney have stopped the fight earlier, considering the visible damage Devin Haney took? The stage is set for you to share your opinions.