It is now two months since Ryan Garcia’s career-best ‘win’ over Devin Haney and a verdict has finally been reached and how the fight will be resulted. However, it seems as though we will not get to see either man return to action anytime soon, as both men appear poised for a spell on the sidelines.
Ryan Garcia missed weight by over five pounds ahead of the bout with Haney, losing the opportunity to win ‘The Dream’s’ WBC super-lightweight title. In an upset victory, Garcia scored three knockdowns and put an end to Haney’s undefeated record with a majority-decision win, only for it to be discovered that Garcia had tested positive for a performance enhancing drug named Ostarine on both the day of the weigh-in and the day of the fight.
After two months of deliberation, the New York State Athletic Commission has come to the conclusion that Garcia must serve a one-year ban from the sport and have overturned his victory to a ‘no-contest’, reinstating Devin Haney’s undefeated record, Dan Rafael reports.
“BREAKING: Ryan Garcia/legal team have made settlement agreement with NYSAC. He has agreed to the following: suspension of at least 1 year; forfeiture of his $1.1M official contract purse (goes to GB, Haney may get %), $10k fine (state max); fight officially a no contest.”
As he has done since news of his positive test broke, Garcia maintained that he had done no wrong in his response to the ban.
“I really hope boxing good without me. I fought everyone and was willing to, they have turned their back on me. I’m innocent, I stand by that I don’t care what everyone says. Gun to my head I say I didn’t take PED’s.”
Meanwhile, Devin Haney threatened to take a break from boxing after his proposed fight with Sandor Martin was snubbed by Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing and it seems as though he will live up to that statement, indicating that his next contest will be a rematch with Garcia once his rival’s suspension is completed on his social media.
“I’ll be back in one year. I had all the belts already. From now on I’m fighting at whatever weight I choose, no longer fighting in weight classes.
“Let’s be real the WBC held a purse bid while I’m going through a whole case of being cheated on top of me being suspended by the NYSAC. This is a dirty game.
“No bs tho, I’m happy it wasn’t a DQ because I wouldn’t wanna win like that, once this suspension is over @RyanGarcia let’s run it back. CLEAN on an even playing field. Biggest fight in boxing!”
Haney has one week remaining to decide whether he will fight Sandor Martin or vacate his WBC super-lightweight title. Should he relinquish the belt, Martin is expected to fight WBC interim champion Alberto Puello for the vacant strap, whilst Haney-Garcia II can take place from April 20th 2025 – with Garcia’s one-year ban being backdated.
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