Boxing star Devin Haney has filed a lawsuit against Ryan Garcia, stemming from their controversial fight earlier this year.
The 25-year-old filed the suit in New York, accusing Garcia of battery, fraud, and breach of contract following the embattled fighter’s doping violation after their April title fight in Brooklyn.
Despite Garcia flooring Haney three times in the fight, the match’s outcome was later overturned to a no contest when Garcia tested positive for the banned substance ostarine, ESPN confirmed. As part of a settlement with the commission, Garcia was suspended for one year and fined more than $1.2 million.
Haney is now looking to penalize Garcia legally, seeking unspecified damages. He is claiming that Garcia’s use of performance-enhancing drugs constituted battery since the match was supposed to be conducted fairly under the agreed rules. Additionally, Haney accused Garcia of fraud. In this aspect of the suit, Haney believes Garcia misrepresented his weight-cutting efforts. Garcia weighed in at 143.2 pounds for a fight set at 140, which was for Haney’s WBC junior welterweight title. The fight moved forward only after Haney accepted a last-minute deal post-weigh-in, with Garcia unable to claim the title. Later, Garcia admitted he had deliberately missed weight. Elsewhere in the suit, Haney is going after Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, demanding a full financial accounting of the event, as Haney was entitled to 47% of the profits, which he has not yet received.
Garcia trolled the lawsuit online. Quoting a tweet about the suit, Garcia wrote, “No words.” Haney’s father and trainer, Bill, responded to this by calling the boxer a “Dumb a**.” The 26-year-old then fired back, threatening him by saying, “Ima sue you for hurting my feelings with that tweet.”
Garcia will be eligible for reinstatement in April 2025.
