In a shocking turn of events, boxing champion Devin Haney has filed a lawsuit against fellow boxer Ryan Garcia, alleging battery, fraud, and unjust enrichment. The legal action comes more than five months after their highly anticipated match on April 20, which ended in controversy.
According to reports from Boxing Scene, Haney’s lawsuit also names Golden Boy Promotions, Garcia’s promoter, as a defendant. The suit stems from Garcia’s positive test for Ostarine, a prohibited performance-enhancing substance, both before and after the bout.
The April matchup was one of the most eagerly awaited boxing events of the year. In a surprising upset, Garcia managed to knock down Haney multiple times. However, Garcia had failed to make weight before the fight, rendering him ineligible to claim the lineal lightweight title.
The positive test results were later confirmed by both the VADA and the New York State Athletic Commission. As a consequence, Garcia’s victory was overturned to a No Contest, he received a substantial fine, and was suspended from boxing for a full year.
Haney’s attorney, Pat English, stated that the bout agreement explicitly prohibited the use of PEDs. “At no time did Devin Haney consent to engage in a bout against a boxer who was positive for a PED, performance enhancing-procedure or masking agent and would not have proceeded with the bout had he known,” English wrote in the legal filing.
The lawsuit also references a controversial statement allegedly made by Garcia, claiming he was in an altered state during the match. This comment, according to the legal team, “brings disrepute on the sport of boxing and by derivation on the New York State Athletic Commission.”
Mark Hunt has filed a new motion in his ongoing RICO lawsuit against the UFC, seeking to unseal all documents related to the case. The lawsuit stems from UFC 200, where Hunt fought Brock Lesnar, who later tested positive for banned PEDs. Hunt claims the UFC knowingly allowed Lesnar to fight despite his use, leading to accusations of fraud, conspiracy, and other legal violations. Despite losing the case and being ordered to pay over $375,000 in legal fees, Hunt believes unsealing documents, including UFC executives’ communications, may reveal critical information. He cited Lesnar’s involvement in other scandals and past UFC controversies as further justification for this request.
He’s also posted online in support of Devin Haney.
In response to the lawsuit, Garcia took to social media, writing, “I’m being sued for doing my job. This fight has been a Netflix documentary but this right here is the finale. Your honor he simply struggles with left hook syndrome.”
The boxing community and fans alike are now left to grapple with the implications of this legal battle. As the case unfolds, it raises questions about the integrity of the sport and the measures in place to ensure fair competition.
This lawsuit marks a significant escalation in the aftermath of what was already a contentious bout. It remains to be seen how this legal challenge will impact both fighters’ careers and the broader landscape of professional boxing.
