Devin Haney has revealed his huge plans to get his loss to Ryan Garcia overturned following Garcia’s failed drug tests.
Haney took the first and only loss of his last month to Garcia when defending his WBC super lightweight title. In a tough fight for the American former undisputed lightweight champion, he was hurt early on and then put down three times on his way to the wrong end of a points decision.
Garcia’s behaviour was hugely erratic in the build up. He admitted to smoking weed and drinking during his camp, and even drank a beer during the ceremonial weigh-in ahead of the fight.
He failed to make the agreed weight limit which meant that he was ineligible to lift the world title despite the victory because he came in more than 3lbs too heavy.
Not long after the fight, news broke that he failed drug tests both before and after the fight. He has protested his innocence but Haney wants the decision overturned and has now made that request to the New York State Athletic Commission, adding that he wants Garcia disqualified.
He has instructed his attorney, Pat English, to take care of the appeal and he has sent an eight-page letter to the Commission’s directors, its chief medical officer and lead attorney.
Should the ruling be made, Haney would be declared the winner and a win would go on his record, rather than the fight just being called a no-contest with no outcome. In that instance, Garcia would be the one to receive a loss on his record.
Part of the letter written by English has been shared on Boxing Scene.
“There is a blemish on Mr. Haney’s record. He was placed in an unsafe fight under NYSAC jurisdiction. The bout was made a mockery and in addition to the PED use and prohibited use of IV’s, after the bout, Mr. Garcia admitted that missing weight was a tactic to give him an unfair advantage.
“As there was no second-day weigh in required by the commission, thus it is impossible to know what he weighed on fight night. This is why, after setting forth the facts below we request that Mr. Garcia be disqualified, which is more fitting than a no-contest in this situation.”
Garcia has requested testing of his “B” sample as a way of trying to prove his innocence and the results of that are due by May 22, though the New York commission has not officially set a date to determine the case once and for all. Should they find him guilty, they will be able to fine and suspend ‘King Ry’ which is what Tony Bellew wants to see happen.
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