Devin Haney camp is fuming over talk that Ryan Garcia, the man who beat him in a WBC super-lightweight fight last month, used illegal substances to assist his unexpected triumph
Devin Haney (gray trunks) receives instructions from his father Bill Haney in between rounds during their WBC Super Lightweight title bout against Ryan Garcia. (
Image: Getty Images)
Devin Haney’s father furiously reacted to middle-of-the-night reports that Ryan Garcia used illegal substances in their recent fight and failed at least one drug test.
According to trusted boxing journalist Dan Rafael, Garcia “tested positive for the banned PED Ostarine in a VADA test related to the Haney fight.” Rafael then asserted that Garcia “failed for Ostarine in 2 urine tests on April 19 & post-fight April 20.”
Garcia, who won via decision after landing three knockdowns, can ask for a B sample to be tested at his own expense. He’s denied the allegations.
“You trying to hurt my baby,” said Bill Haney to Sports Illustrated. “We played it fair. We didn’t do it like that. F*** boxing, this is some b***s***. I came from the streets. You scared of Devin on a level playing field. I feel f***** up over this. If you can brag about doing it, you shouldn’t be on drugs.”
According to Sports Illustrated, the New York State Athletic Commission will open a probe into the drug test results and could turn Garcia’s win into a no-contest.
Garcia was overweight for the fight before Devin Haney agreed to enter the ring with him anyway. Haney and Garcia agreed at a press conference that a $500,000 (£400,000) fine would be paid to the other fighter for each and every pound they were over the 140-pound limit.
Haney received a payment of $1.5 million (£1.2m) from Garcia for the boxer’s error, and it also forfeited Ryan’s eligibility to contest for the WBC super lightweight title. Haney was 31-0 heading into the fight with Garcia, a fighter who claimed he wasn’t taking the bout as seriously as Haney.
After the news broke of Garcia’s failed test, he posted two pictures of herbal supplements on the social media platform X, captioned, “My bad I shouldn’t have took this.”
Garcia was boastful after defeating Haney, with his celebrations now called into question.
“I don’t give a f*** what people say about me,” Garcia had claimed following the fight. “I walked through the fire and still held it down and still beat f***ing Devin Haney and still drink every day.
“Not necessarily am I proud of that, but I’m just saying it was a statement to show you, you guys can’t really f*** with me.”
Meanwhile, Haney was forced into introspection in the aftermath of the defeat, and any doubts about himself may wash away with the claims about Garcia.
“I’m disappointed about my performance,” said Haney, 25, during his postfight interview. “I [showed I] was a true champion and I could fight after being knocked down.”
“He caught me early when I was sleeping on him,” he added. “He caught me by surprise. I fell asleep on the left hook. … I gave him a shot. It’s only right he gives me a shot back.”
