"Devin Haney Sues Ryan Garcia for Battery, Fraud, and Unjust Enrichment Over Controversial No-Contest Fight"
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Devin Haney filed a lawsuit on Friday against Ryan Garcia, accusing him of battery, fraud, and unjust enrichment, while also naming Garcia’s promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, in the suit. Haney is seeking a full review and adjustment of the accounting for their controversial fight, which now stands as a no-contest.
In the April 20 bout against WBC 140-pound champion Haney, Garcia came in overweight and delivered a stunning performance, knocking Haney down three times and winning on the scorecards. However, shortly after, Garcia tested positive for the banned performance-enhancing drug Ostarine, as revealed by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association and the New York State Athletic Commission. His victory was later overturned, and the result declared a no-contest. Garcia was subsequently suspended for a year and fined.
Haney’s attorney, Pat English, filed a 16-page lawsuit demanding punitive damages for Garcia's actions. Haney's father and trainer, Bill Haney, told BoxingScene shortly after the lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of New York, the venue where the two fought at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, “Devin is a consummate professional, and Ryan Garcia has shown no respect for himself, the business, or the sport.” Bill Haney added, “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.”
As stated in the lawsuit, Garcia signed documents declaring that he had not used performance-enhancing drugs. During the fight, Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) was repeatedly rocked by Garcia's left hooks and knocked down in the seventh, 10th, and 11th rounds before losing by a majority decision, with the scores reading 112-112, 114-110, and 115-109.
The lawsuit also references Garcia’s erratic behavior leading up to the fight, including frequent social media outbursts, strange conduct at the press conference, and failing to make weight by 3.5 pounds. Garcia was also seen drinking from a beer bottle while standing on the ceremonial scale. The Haney camp submitted additional evidence, including a YouTube video showing Garcia receiving an IV with a “yellowish tinge” before the fight.
Haney’s attorney English wrote, “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 added that the New York State Athletic Commission would have canceled the bout had it known about the positive drug test or Garcia’s IV use.
In the battery charge, the lawsuit claims that Haney “at no time agreed to engage in a bout against an individual who had taken a performance-enhancing drug.” It further alleges that “the fighting (touching) by Garcia was non-consensual,” causing Haney physical injury, reputational damage, and emotional and mental distress. The fraud charge stems from Garcia's signed commitment to fight drug-free and make weight for the title bout.
The lawsuit also includes a claim for unjust enrichment, arguing that Garcia does not deserve to retain his purse and pay-per-view earnings. English stated, “By virtue of his actions, Ryan Garcia was enriched, at the expense of Devin Haney, to the tune of millions of dollars.” He further explained that Garcia benefited from advancing his reputation while Haney suffered significant losses in future earnings. Additionally, Garcia received millions of dollars he wasn’t entitled to, and Haney’s legal team argues that it is unjust for Garcia to retain those funds.
Regarding Golden Boy Promotions, Haney’s lawsuit claims that he has been deprived of funds under a June 20 New York commission consent order. According to the order, Garcia is required to return his guaranteed purse to Golden Boy, and Haney is entitled to 47% of all profits from the bout. Haney’s legal team alleges that Golden Boy is refusing to share these extra profits, constituting breach of contract or unjust enrichment.
Bill Haney also stated that Devin is still open to a rematch with Garcia, provided the purse is acceptable and Garcia is subjected to strict drug testing procedures.
In the April 20 bout against WBC 140-pound champion Haney, Garcia came in overweight and delivered a stunning performance, knocking Haney down three times and winning on the scorecards. However, shortly after, Garcia tested positive for the banned performance-enhancing drug Ostarine, as revealed by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association and the New York State Athletic Commission. His victory was later overturned, and the result declared a no-contest. Garcia was subsequently suspended for a year and fined.
Haney’s attorney, Pat English, filed a 16-page lawsuit demanding punitive damages for Garcia's actions. Haney's father and trainer, Bill Haney, told BoxingScene shortly after the lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of New York, the venue where the two fought at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, “Devin is a consummate professional, and Ryan Garcia has shown no respect for himself, the business, or the sport.” Bill Haney added, “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.”
As stated in the lawsuit, Garcia signed documents declaring that he had not used performance-enhancing drugs. During the fight, Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) was repeatedly rocked by Garcia's left hooks and knocked down in the seventh, 10th, and 11th rounds before losing by a majority decision, with the scores reading 112-112, 114-110, and 115-109.
The lawsuit also references Garcia’s erratic behavior leading up to the fight, including frequent social media outbursts, strange conduct at the press conference, and failing to make weight by 3.5 pounds. Garcia was also seen drinking from a beer bottle while standing on the ceremonial scale. The Haney camp submitted additional evidence, including a YouTube video showing Garcia receiving an IV with a “yellowish tinge” before the fight.
Haney’s attorney English wrote, “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 added that the New York State Athletic Commission would have canceled the bout had it known about the positive drug test or Garcia’s IV use.
In the battery charge, the lawsuit claims that Haney “at no time agreed to engage in a bout against an individual who had taken a performance-enhancing drug.” It further alleges that “the fighting (touching) by Garcia was non-consensual,” causing Haney physical injury, reputational damage, and emotional and mental distress. The fraud charge stems from Garcia's signed commitment to fight drug-free and make weight for the title bout.
The lawsuit also includes a claim for unjust enrichment, arguing that Garcia does not deserve to retain his purse and pay-per-view earnings. English stated, “By virtue of his actions, Ryan Garcia was enriched, at the expense of Devin Haney, to the tune of millions of dollars.” He further explained that Garcia benefited from advancing his reputation while Haney suffered significant losses in future earnings. Additionally, Garcia received millions of dollars he wasn’t entitled to, and Haney’s legal team argues that it is unjust for Garcia to retain those funds.
Regarding Golden Boy Promotions, Haney’s lawsuit claims that he has been deprived of funds under a June 20 New York commission consent order. According to the order, Garcia is required to return his guaranteed purse to Golden Boy, and Haney is entitled to 47% of all profits from the bout. Haney’s legal team alleges that Golden Boy is refusing to share these extra profits, constituting breach of contract or unjust enrichment.
Bill Haney also stated that Devin is still open to a rematch with Garcia, provided the purse is acceptable and Garcia is subjected to strict drug testing procedures.