Devin Haney is suing Ryan Garcia for battery, fraud and more

Devin Haney filed a lawsuit against Ryan Garcia on Friday, accusing him of battery, fraud and unjust enrichment, while naming Garcia’s promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, in the lawsuit, demanding a full review and adjustment of the settlement of their controversial fight, which is now ruled a no-contest .

In his April 20 fight against WBC 140-pound champion Haney, Garcia was overweight and then stunningly knocked down Haney with three knockdowns to win on the scorecards.

Days later, the Volunteer Anti-Doping Association and the New York State Athletic Commission found that Garcia had the banned performance-enhancing substance Ostarine in his system, and his victory was later converted to a no-contest, while Garcia was punished with a one-year prison-long suspension and penalties.

Haney’s attorney, Pat English, wrote in the 16-page lawsuit that Haney is seeking punitive damages for Garcia’s crimes.

“Devin is a consummate professional and Ryan Garcia has shown no respect for himself, the business or the sport,” Haney’s father-trainer Bill Haney told BoxingScene minutes after filing the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. , the site where Garcia and Devin Haney fought at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

“Devin is the face of boxing because he has challenged the franchise in many ways – working with multiple promoters, crossing the street (among broadcasters), and now questioning the use of PEDs. It’s all for the good of the sport.”

Just as he did when he petitioned the New York commission to suspend Garcia and overturn his victory, English’s attorney noted in Friday’s civil filing that Garcia had signed documents swearing he had not used performance-enhancing drugs.

In the fight, Haney (31-0, 15 KO) was immediately shocked and dazed when Garcia lowered hooks and then hit the canvas in the seventh, 10th and 11th rounds before Garcia’s hand was raised in a 112-112 majority victory , 114-110, 115-109.

In the lawsuit, Haney reiterates how Garcia acted erratically throughout the lead-up to the fight, constantly talked about conspiracy theories on social media, acted strangely at a Hollywood press conference and ultimately lost 3.5 pounds by drinking from a beer bottle while standing on a scale ceremonial.

In addition to the three positive Ostarine test results, supported by positive tests on “B” samples, the Haney camp posted a YouTube video of Garcia receiving a pre-fight drip of fluid with a “yellowish tint.”

“At no time did Devin Haney agree to fight a boxer who tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug, performance-enhancing procedure or masking agent and who would not have continued to fight had he known about it,” English wrote in the article lawsuit. “The New York State Athletic Commission would not have cleared the fight if it had known of the positive result or that Garcia was on an IV drip.

“Mr. Garcia adding insult to the Commission and the sport of boxing

he claimed he was “high” during the fight with Mr. Haney. This is very clearly a disgrace to the sport of boxing and comes from New

York State Athletic Commission.

After Garcia named one person responsible for supplying him with Ostarine, Haney’s legal team wants to hold such individuals accountable.

“The actions of Ryan Garcia and those who assisted him demonstrate a high degree of moral turpitude and plain dishonesty that suggests a criminal indifference to his civil obligations, as well as willful or wanton neglect or recklessness or willful disregard for the rights of others or conduct so so reckless as to amount to disregard,” English wrote in the lawsuit.

Regarding the battery count, Haney “at no point did he agree to engage in a fight with someone who had taken a performance-enhancing drug. His consent was limited to a fight conducted fairly and in accordance with the rules and prohibitions set out above. Therefore, the fighting (touching) of Garcia was non-consensual. “Devin Haney has suffered damages in the form of physical injuries, reputational damage that will amount to millions of dollars, and emotional and mental distress,” the lawsuit states.

Haney ultimately withdrew from defending his belt against WBC mandatory foe Sandor Martin, relinquishing the belt.

The cheating count is linked to signing statements by Garcia that he would fight drug-free and gain weight for the title fight.

As for the unjust enrichment issue, Haney’s legal team argues that Garcia does not deserve to keep his purse and a ratings cut.

“Through his actions, Ryan Garcia has been enriched at the expense of Devin Haney to the tune of millions of dollars,” English wrote. “Ryan Garcia in particular improved his reputation at the expense of Devin Haney. This translates into a significant loss of future profits for Devin Haney.

“Ryan Garcia received millions of dollars in addition to which he was not entitled. Allowing Ryan Garcia to keep what is to be recovered in this action is contrary to equity and good conscience.

As for the promotion of Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy, Haney claims that he was deprived of financial resources, as demanded by the June 20 decision of the New York commission.

“Under the terms of the consent order, Ryan Garcia must do so

return the amount paid to him (guaranteed, other than pay-per-view) to his promoter, Golden Boy. Devin Haney and Devin Haney Inc. are contractually entitled to 47% of all profits from the fight and are therefore entitled to 47% of the funds required to be repaid… Golden Boy has assured that it will not share additional profits from the fight as a result of forfeiture ordered by the New York Athletic Commission. This constitutes a breach of contract by Golden Boy and/or an unjust enrichment of Golden Boy,” the lawsuit alleges.

Haney’s legal team is asking Golden Boy to transfer further funds to Garcia’s escrow account.

Bill Haney said Friday that his son would still agree to a rematch with Garcia as long as the purse money was acceptable and Garcia was subjected to the most stringent drug tests.

Messages left Friday by BoxingScene for Garcia and Golden Boy Promotions’ attorney seeking a response to the lawsuit were not immediately returned.