Ryan Garcia has filed counterclaims against Devin Haney, and has also sued Haney’s dad, Bill Haney and Devin Haney Promotions, Inc. He is seeking an unspecified amount in excess of $2.5 million. With the Garcia-Haney bout scheduled for April 20th in Brooklyn, New York, Garcia (pictured) missed the contracted weight of 140 pounds by a wide margin, over three pounds. Garcia's court filing says he paid Haney $600,000 to go ahead with the bout despite the extra weight. The overweight Garcia initially defeated Haney by majority decision and generally punished Haney with heavy shots, but Garcia tested positive for ostarine, a banned performance-enhancing substance. On June 20th, the New York Athletic Commission issued a Consent Order [signed by Garcia] in which Garcia’s professional licenses were administratively suspended for one year (through April 20, 2025). Garcia paid a $10,000 fine to the Commission and forfeited his purse for the bout. The Commission changed the official result of the bout to a no contest, which restored Haney’s undefeated record to 31-0.
Garcia’s claims against the Haney Defendants are for abuse of process and tortious interference with prospective economic advantage.
Garcia’s court filing alleges as follows:
These counterclaims arise out of the malicious conduct by Devin Haney, his father Bill Haney, and his promotional company Haney Promotions. In retaliation for Devin Haney not winning his April 20th bout against Garcia [it was declared a no contest after Garcia tested positive for a banned performance enhancing substance], Devin Haney and Haney Promotions, at the encouragement of Bill Haney, initiated this lawsuit against Garcia and requested a pre-judgment attachment from the bout’s promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, Inc. on all funds due to Garcia.
[According to Garcia] the Haney Defendants know that their lawsuit has no legal or factual basis. Indeed, it is being used for perverted purposes to: (i) coerce Garcia into agreeing to another bout against Devin Haney; (ii) cause economic harm to Garcia; (iii) damage Garcia’s reputation; (iv) encourage unwarranted investigations by anti-doping agencies into Garcia; and (v) obtain an economic advantage and media attention. Such conduct is wholly improper.
In further retaliation and [again, according to Garcia] because the lawsuit did not receive the favorable media attention they thought it would, the Haneys have publicly and falsely claimed that Garcia is a coward for not agreeing to a rematch and publicly and falsely accused Garcia of being a cheater for allegedly violating the terms of a rematch that Garcia never agreed to. The Haneys [allegedly] did so with actual knowledge and reckless disregard of the fact that their conduct would damage Garcia’s prospective business relationships with third parties. Indeed, during a time when Garcia should be focused on his return to professional boxing, the Haneys have damaged Garcia’s relationships with third parties, including but not limited to other professional boxers and boxing promoters.
[Garcia alleges] that the Haneys may want to settle personal scores, but their abuse of the judicial process and harassment of Garcia has cost Garcia to the tune of millions of dollars and they must be held accountable.
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
[In September], Devin Haney (pictured) filed a federal lawsuit against Ryan Garcia over their April 20th boxing match in Brooklyn, New York. Haney entered the bout as the WBC 140-pound champion. Garcia was initially judged the winner of the WBC championship by majority decision but the victory was later changed to a no contest after Garcia tested positive for ostarine, an illegal performance enhancing drug. Haney, who took considerable punishment in the bout, has charged Garcia with battery, fraud and unjust enrichment. He says he would not have consented to the boxing match had he known Garcia would have been illegally enhanced. Haney also charges Garcia with fraud based on Garcia's statement after the bout that he did not intend to make the junior welterweight limit of 140 pounds. Instead of weakening himself to make 140 pounds, as is expected in a championship fight, Garcia weighed in at 143 the day prior to the fight and fought at a much higher weight than that. Haney agreed to let Garcia fight over the weight limit but says his agreement was procured through Garcia's fraudulent statements.
Haney's lawsuit will be aided by a consent order that Garcia entered with the New York Athletic Commission back in June. In that consent order, Garcia admitted ostarine was in his system during the fight,. He also agreed to a ten thousand dollar fine, and more importantly, to return his purse for the fight to the bout's promoter, Golden Boy. Haney's deal for the fight included 47% of the profits, and as a result of Garcia forfeiting his purse back to Golden Boy, Haney wants the undisclosed purse amount to be included in the profits, so that he would gets 47% of Garcia's share if he prevails in the lawsuit.
Also named in the lawsuit was strength and conditioning coach Dave "Scooter" Honig, who briefly worked with Garcia before the fight. Garcia claims Honig gave him supplements that may have caused the positive test. The lawsuit contained no evidence of any wrongdoing by Honig, other then reporting what Garcia said.
