Devin Haney is suing Ryan Garcia for fraud and assault in their April 2023 fight. The prosecution is seeking millions in damages.
Devin Haney’s controversial fight against Ryan Garcia on April 20 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, will have legal repercussions. Devin Haney filed a lawsuit against Ryan Garcia and his promoter Golden Boy last Friday. Haney accuses Garcia of assault, fraud and unjust enrichment. Garcia had won the fight in April by majority decision. However, in subsequent doping tests he tested positive for the banned substance ostarine. The substance was detected in both samples by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).
Ostarine, which has been on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) doping list since 2008, is used to build muscle mass, burn fat and speed up recovery after intensive training. Haney explains that he would never have accepted the fight if he had known that Garcia was under the influence of a performance-enhancing substance. The lawsuit emphasizes that the fight should only have taken place under fair conditions and according to the rules.
Ryan Garcia went into the fight doped and too heavy
Garcia, who weighed 3.2 pounds over the 140-pound division limit for the fight, had admitted to intentionally exceeding the weight limit to gain an advantage. Haney is now suing for damages, arguing that the fight took place under unfair conditions. “Devin Haney agreed to a boxing match under fair rules, but not to a fight against a boxer who had taken performance-enhancing drugs,” the statement of claim reads.
The New York State Athletic Commission suspended Garcia for at least one year and ordered him to return his entire fight purse of 1.1 million dollars. The commission also fined him 10,000 dollars. Haney now claims that he suffered physical and psychological damage as a result of the fight and that his reputation suffered greatly. The lawsuit also mentions financial damages that could run into the millions.
Devin Haney sues Golden Boy for breach of contract
In addition to Garcia, the lawsuit is also directed against his trainer Dave Honig, who is alleged to have supported Garcia in doping. Haney is also accusing Garcia’s promotion company Golden Boy Promotions, which is managed by Oscar De La Hoya, of breach of contract. Haney is demanding a precise accounting of the income from the DAZN pay-per-view event, as he is entitled to 47 percent of the profits according to the contract. According to Haney, however, Golden Boy refuses to share the additional income from the repayment of Garcia’s purse, which the prosecution considers to be unjust enrichment.
Haney reclaims compensation payment
Another point of the lawsuit concerns the financial compensation that Haney had accepted before the fight in order to be able to compete despite Garcia’s excess weight. Haney paid 300,000 US dollars so that another boxer, presumably the current BOXSPORT number 10 Sandor Martin, could step aside and the fight for the WBC title could take place. Haney emphasizes that this payment was unnecessary, as Garcia never intended to comply with the weight limit.
Garcia counters Haney lawsuit on social media
Ryan Garcia responded to the lawsuit with several posts on social media. In a post on X, he wrote: “Let’s sue this guy.”
Let’s sue this guy pic.twitter.com/6ZZX9YEsAg
– RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) September 30, 2024
Text: Andreas Ohlberger