The animosity between Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia will now extend to the courtroom.
A report from BoxingScene’s Lance Pugmire details a lawsuit filed on Friday by the WBC champ-in-recess against his rival and Golden Boy Promotions.
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The suit, filed with the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of New York, accuses Ryan Garcia of “battery, fraud, and unjust enrichment” following the April bout that was amended to a no-contest.
Originally Devin Haney was handed his first career loss via majority decision. Before the final bell, “The Dream” was dropped three times. He retained his title because Ryan Garcia weighed in over three pounds above the 140-pound limit.
Afterward, Garcia popped for ostarine, a banned substance, in multiple tests. “King Ryan” blamed tainted supplements but eventually settled with the New York State Athletic Commission. He was handed a year-long suspension and fined $1.1 million, which was returned to Golden Boy.
Devin Haney’s father, Bill Haney, called his son “the face of boxing because he has challenged the franchise in many ways. “Now he’s challenging PED use. This is all for the good of the sport,” he said after the suit was filed.
The elder Haney also called out Garcia for showing “no respect for himself, the business, or the sport.”
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Devin Haney Lawsuit: Ryan Garcia ‘High as F*ck’ During Fight
Devin Haney’s attorney, Pat English, referred to documents Garcia signed “vowing he had not used performance enhancing drugs.” The once again undefeated Haney is requesting punitive damages along with a portion of the NYSAC fine.
The 16 page suit also references Garcia’s odd behavior in the build up, including social media rants and drinking beer at the weigh-ins. It even accuses of the Victorville native of being “high as f*ck” at the time of the fight.”
English also outlined “a significant loss of future earnings” and Garcia benefiting from the alleged fraud “to the tune of millions.”
“The fighting (touching) by Garcia was nonconsensual. Devin Haney suffered damages in that he suffered physical injury, reputational damage which will amount to millions of dollars, and emotional and mental distress,” the lawsuit states.
