Report: Devin Haney sues Ryan Garcia alleging battery, fraud, unjust enrichment from April 20 fight; Garcia responds
Devin Haney isn’t done with Ryan Garcia.
Garcia defeated Haney this past April in a highly controversial bout that saw Garcia miss weight for the 140-pound contest—rendering him ineligible to win Haney’s WBC super lightweight title—and then have his win overturned when it was later announced that he tested positive for a banned substance.
Haney’s team subsequently wrote a letter to the New York State Athletic Commission calling for Garcia to be disqualified and are now taking legal recourse. On Friday, the boxer filed a lawsuit against Garcia alleging battery, fraud, and unjust enrichment from the April 20 contest, according to a report from Boxing Scene.
“Devin is a consummate professional and Ryan Garcia has shown no respect for himself, the business or the sport,” Haney’s father and coach Bill Haney told Boxing Scene. “Devin is the face of boxing because he has challenged the franchise in many ways – by working with multiple promoters, by crossing the sides of the street (among broadcasters), and now he’s challenging PED use. This is all for the good of the sport.”
Garcia has already faced sanctions from the NYSAC. In June, the boxer reached a settlement with the commission, accepting a $1.1 million fine and a one-year suspension from competition for the failed drug test. He had also made a public bet with Haney that resulted in Garcia paying Haney $600,000 after he weighed in three pounds over the limit for their fight.
On fight night, Garcia scored three knockdowns en route to a majority decision win; however, that win is now officially a no-contest and Haney’s undefeated record has been restored at 31-0.
According to Haney’s attorney Pat English, there was specific language in the bout agreement signed by Garcia in which the boxer guaranteed he would not use performance-enhancing drugs. Garcia has become known for his troubling behavior in public and on social media, which necessitated extra precautions on the Haney side.
“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,” English wrote in Friday’s filing, according to Boxing Scene. “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*ck 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.”
The lawsuit alleges battery due to Haney suffering “physical injury, reputational damage which will amount to millions of dollars, and emotional and mental distress,” fraud due to Garcia’s weight miss and positive drug test, and unjust enrichment due to Garcia receiving his purse and a share of the pay-per-view profits.
“Under the terms of that consent order, Ryan Garcia must return the (guaranteed, non-pay-per-view earnings) purse he has been paid to his promoter, Golden Boy,” the lawsuit reads. “Devin Haney and Devin Haney Inc. are contractually entitled to 47 percent of all profits for the bout and is thus entitled to 47 percent of the funds required to be returned … Golden Boy has asserted that it will not share its extra profits from the bout as a result of the forfeiture ordered by the New York Athletic Commission. This constitutes a breach of contract by Golden Boy and /or and /or unjust enrichment to Golden Boy.”
**UPDATE**
Garcia responded to Haney’s lawsuit with an Instagram post on Friday, making light of the situation and mocking Haney.
“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.”