Haney Slaps Garcia With Battery Lawsuit
Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images
Devin Haney dropped a lawsuit on Friday suing former opponent, Ryan Garcia, for alleged battery, fraud, and unjust enrichment. This comes over five months removed from their boxing match back on April 20.
Haney’s suit was first reported by Boxing Scene. Garcia’s promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, was also named in the lawsuit.
Remember, Haney and Garcia fought this past April in one of the most anticipated boxing matchups of the year. To much surprise, Garcia scored multiple knockdowns in a massive upset win over Haney, who was the lineal lightweight champion coming into the fight. Unfortunately, Garcia missed weight before the match and was ineligible to win the title, but it was still a tremendous performance by “King Ry.”
After the fight, it was revealed that Garcia failed both his pre-fight and post-fight drug tests, popping for the illegal performance-enhancing drug Ostarine. Garcia tried to deny the allegations, but both the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) and the New York State Athletic Commission confirmed the results. In turn, Garcia’s win over Haney was overturned to a No Contest, he was heavily fined, and most importantly he was suspended from boxing for an entire year.
As if that wasn’t enough punishment for Garcia, Haney is now suing the young boxer for alleged battery, fraud, and unjust enrichment. According to Friday’s report, Haney’s attorney, Pat English, is claiming that the bout agreement with Garcia stipulated that there would be zero use of PEDs.
“At no time did Devin Haney consent to engage in a bout against a boxer who was positive for a performance-enhancing drug, performance enhancing-procedure or masking agent and would not have proceeded with the bout had he known,” wrote English. “The New York State Athletic Commission would not have permitted the bout had it known of the positive finding or of Garcia’s IV use.
“Adding insult to the Commission and to the sport of boxing, Mr. Garcia has alleged that he was ‘high as f—k during’ his bout with Mr. Haney. This very clearly brings disrepute on the sport of boxing and by derivation on the New York State Athletic Commission.”
Garcia, who has teased a move to mixed martial arts (MMA) during his suspension from boxing, responded to news of Haney’s suit on Friday. Check it out below:
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“I’m being sued for doing my job,” wrote Garcia. “This fight has been a Netflix documentary but this right here is the finale. Your honor he simply struggles with left hook syndrome.”
What are your thoughts on all of us? Should Haney let this go or is he doing the right thing by suing Garcia for more?
Let’s discuss!
