From the boxing ring to the court! This Friday, Devin Haney filed a lawsuit against Ryan Garcia in New York that’s packed with accusations of battery, fraud, and breach of contract. This legal drama unfolds in the aftermath of Garcia’s infamous doping scandal following their April showdown in Brooklyn, as revealed by court documents snagged by ESPN.
In case you forgot, Garcia and Haney went glove-for-glove back and April and Garcia initially knocked Haney down three times to clinch a shocking victory. But that shocking win was later yanked away and turned into a no contest after Garcia revealed his secret weapon: the performance-enhancing drug ostarine. As a result, he found himself sidelined for a year, with a hefty fine of over $1.2 million after settling with the boxing commission.
Now, Haney is on a quest for unspecified damages, claiming that Garcia’s actions amounted to battery because, let’s face it, he signed up for a fair fight, not a chemistry experiment. The lawsuit dramatically states, “While Devin Haney agreed to participate in a prize fight against Garcia, at no time did he agree to engage in a bout against an individual who had taken a performance-enhancing drug.”
But wait, there’s more! Haney also alleges fraud and he claims that Garcia pulled a fast one by claiming he “tried to make weight and failed.” In a bit of a head-scratcher, Garcia tipped the scales at 143.2 pounds for a 140-pound title bout, and the fight only happened after Haney reluctantly accepted a deal post-weigh-in—despite Garcia not being eligible for the title. Garcia later shrugged off the weight issue, claiming it was all part of his master plan.
The lawsuit makes it clear: “Haney would have never fought against a boxer who was positive for a PED.” Ouch!
Adding another layer to this legal cake, the suit also takes aim at Garcia’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, demanding a full accounting of the event along with proof of expenses. After all, Haney was due a cool 47% of the event’s profits.
As for the fighters, Garcia (with a record of 24-1, 20 KOs) is eyeing a comeback in April, while Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) is still waiting for his next bout, having not stepped into the ring since their controversial clash.
Garcia has not yet responded to Haney’s lawsuit.