By Elliot Worsell
In Manhattan, New York, on Friday (April 19) at 1.35 pm, CNN Anchor and Chief Legal Analyst Laura Coates faced a difficult task of explaining to her audience what she witnessed: a man setting himself on fire in front of Collect Pond Park. Despite the intense flames just a few meters away, Coates, though shocked, maintained a composed demeanor and provided a detailed account of the event. Some viewers were unsettled by her approach, arguing that she portrayed it more like a sports event rather than a tragic incident.
“Outside the park,” Coates said, “we have a man who has set fire to himself… A man has emblazoned himself outside of the courthouse just now… Our cameras are turning right now… A man has now lit himself on fire outside the courthouse in Manhattan, where we are waiting for history to be made. We are watching a man fully emblazoned in front of the courthouse today, we are watching multiple fires breaking out around his body, and we have seen an arm that has been visible that is engulfed in total flames… There is chaos, people are wondering right now if people are in danger… I’m looking across the courtyard, there is a man racing to his aid, there are clothes coming off to put out the fire, we have members of security, NYPD is rushing to the scene, officers are on the scene, a fire extinguisher is right now present and being put on this man to try and put it out, people are climbing over the barricades to try to separate the public and put out the flame on this man… He has lit himself on fire in front of the courthouse right now and we are watching and can smell the air… I can smell the burning of some sort of flesh… I can smell the burning of some sort of agent being used as an accelerant to put out the fire… I smell an actual fire extinguisher… I see a person whose body appears to be on the ground being surrounded by officers… the fire is still burning…”
Later that day, in Brooklyn, Ryan Garcia found himself on the other side of the Manhattan Bridge, preparing for his WBC super-lightweight title match against Devin Haney. As anticipated, he exceeded the weight limit and, during the ceremonial weigh-in, skillfully simulated drinking a beer while standing on the scales.
At that moment, amidst the entire spectacle, what was even more dreadful than the frenzied energy and the wild sounds was the realization that Garcia’s actions had been actively supported and documented by the people present, with each of them playing a part in permitting the fight to occur on Saturday.
Ryan Garcia weighs in
At that moment, it ceased to be a mere fight and transformed into a chilling nightmare, resembling a horrifying tale. Despite the absence of monsters, ghouls, or serial killers within this nightmare, it remained equally terrifying. It was the type of nightmare that would jolt you awake, drenched in perspiration, feeling immense gratitude for simply being alive.
The movie belonged to the subgenre of “psychological horror,” and in this eerie tale, Ryan Garcia, a 25-year-old boxer, discovered himself trapped in a distinct reality while everyone else remained oblivious to the stark contrast. Surrounded by individuals who refused to acknowledge the disparity, Garcia remained blissfully ignorant of the truth, leaving him adrift in a self-created realm with no connection to actuality. The only semblance of control he possessed was the nonsensical content he generated on his phone.
Occasionally, if just to see that he was still alive, the people who know Garcia, and stand to benefit from him staying alive, would check in on him and throw him a book, or something he could drink, but ultimately the care effort was no greater than that. Now and again a bloke named Bill, his opponent’s dad, would even remind him of his son’s intention to “kill him” at Barclays Center.
Upon reflection, it’s hard to imagine a more terrifying nightmare than one featuring the individuals who have been monitoring Garcia’s every move in recent days. If I were ever trapped in a similar mental state, where my mind becomes so fragmented that I’m labeled the “crazy one” at a boxing event, there is nothing worse than being surrounded by the very people Garcia was associating with this week. Each one of them, without exception, made eye contact, engaging in conversations about the fight or Devin Haney, pretending, despite being aware of the truth, that everything was perfectly ordinary – just another day in the world of boxing.
The photograph of Ryan Garcia was captured by Sam Hodde/Getty Images.
Unfortunately, during fight week, the only thing more frightening than Ryan Garcia’s intense expressions were the expressions of those around him. These were not concerned faces, but rather faces of accomplices. They thrived on chaos rather than being disturbed by it. They desired even more madness from Garcia, hoping he would become even more terrifying, as long as no one ended up dead. They believed that as long as they could get through the fight, collect their money, and return home, it would all be fine. What Garcia chose to do in the upcoming weeks, months, and years was his responsibility, not theirs.
Certainly, the way boxing currently compensates its fighters and the manner in which its media functions make events like Haney vs. Garcia incredibly appealing to those who are willing to disregard the fighters’ well-being. It was undeniably a spectacle tailored for the era of social media. It resembled a situation where a person willingly ignites themselves while others simply observe – some supporting, others disregarding, some documenting, some writing about it, and some exploiting the situation for personal gain, perceiving not a person in distress but rather a chance for fame and success.
“…Here’s a stretcher coming out… We’re about to see this body be lifted off the ground that has been engulfed in flames for over three minutes… Although the flames have totally dissipated, the cloud of smoke is still there… We’re getting ready to see what no human being should see… I see a totally charred human being… His entire body is covered in a white type of chalk… We’re going to go to a break but we’re going to be right back and will reset in a moment…”
Despite initial expectations of Ryan Garcia’s failure, he surprised everyone during his fight with Haney in Brooklyn. Garcia, who had appeared lost and out of control leading up to the fight, suddenly regained focus and control in the ring. In the first round, he managed to hurt Haney, earning his respect and setting the tone for the rest of the fight. Garcia continued to trouble his opponent with his powerful left hook, even dropping Haney three times throughout the match. Despite Haney’s attempts to regain control with his jab, Garcia knew that a well-placed hit could shift the momentum in his favor.
Devin Haney gets wobbled by Ryan Garcia in a photo captured by Al Bello/Getty Images.
As anticipated, things took a peculiar turn as the fight progressed, which was to be expected. For instance, Garcia occasionally turned his back and was penalized a point in the seventh round for punching on the break. In the final moments of the 12th round, he confidently shook his hips and stuck out his tongue at Haney, indicating that he believed he had won. However, these moments were relatively minor compared to the outrageous behavior we had anticipated from Garcia prior to the fight. Many had predicted that he would do something incredibly foolish, to the point of disqualification, bringing disgrace to boxing and giving the rest of the sports world another reason to criticize.
The fact that this event never occurred was a triumph in its own right, benefiting both Garcia and the sport. However, the majority decision Garcia obtained after 12 rounds was even more significant to him. Despite an equal scorecard of 112-112, scores of 115-109 and 114-110 ultimately ruled in Garcia’s favor. This outcome marked Devin Haney’s initial defeat as a professional, surprising everyone who had doubted Garcia’s abilities, questioning if he was unprepared or mentally unstable, or even both.
The boxing ring has always been Garcia’s sanctuary, where he feels most at ease and accepted. It is the place where he can fully express himself and be true to who he is. In his latest fight, he transformed the things that had unsettled people in recent months into his strengths and utilized them to achieve his greatest victory yet. This serves as a reminder that the only thing setting Garcia apart from previous “eccentric” fighters is his constant connection to the world through his phone, allowing him to share his thoughts at all times.
Devin Haney, on the other hand, experienced a nightmarish turn of events, unlike Garcia. This served as a harsh reminder of the dangers of complacency and taught him the frightening truth that encountering something beyond comprehension is truly terrifying for any individual.
