Bill Haney, father and trainer of boxing champion Devin Haney, has ignited social media by launching a strong critique against boxer Ryan Garcia. Using his official Instagram account, Bill posted an image in his stories warning about the risks of steroid use, accompanied by a direct message to Garcia.
In the Instagram story, Bill Haney wrote: “@RyanGarcia, some of us rely on skills, others rely on shortcuts. We’ll keep it clean while you clean up your mess. 💉 #NoShortcuts #Cleanwins #Haneystrong.” This message directly references the controversies surrounding Garcia, who was recently suspended for doping.
The tension between the two camps is not new. Devin Haney’s team has made it clear that a rematch against Ryan Garcia will only be possible if the latter undergoes a strict Olympic-style anti-doping program. This condition was imposed due to Garcia’s recent history with banned substances. Bill Haney gave Garcia a 48-hour deadline to enroll in the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) program. This is aimed at ensuring a clean fight after Garcia’s doping suspension ends in April.
Simultaneously, Devin Haney also joined the discussion on social media. On his X account (formerly Twitter), Devin posted a cryptic message: “They know I’m coming…” Although Devin didn’t elaborate further, Ryan Garcia quickly responded, using the mocking tone that has characterized their rivalry: “No they don’t,” replied Garcia.
The rivalry between Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney began in 2023, but it has reached its peak in 2024. Earlier this year, Devin Haney filed a lawsuit against Garcia, accusing him of assault, fraud, and unjust enrichment. The lawsuit was filed after a failed drug test affected the outcome of their fight.
The bout, which was initially decided by a majority in favor of Garcia, was later declared a “no-contest” when it was revealed that Garcia had tested positive for Ostarine, an anabolic steroid, both on the weigh-in day and the fight day. This scandal has severely damaged Ryan Garcia’s reputation and further fueled tensions between the two boxers and their teams.
With this new escalation on social media and Bill Haney’s insistence on ensuring a clean fight through anti-doping controls, the path to a potential rematch between Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia seems increasingly fraught with obstacles. Garcia’s response, or his lack of commitment to the Haney team’s demands, will be key in determining whether the much-anticipated rematch will happen.
Devin Haney’s father/trainer Bill Haney firing shots at Ryan Garcia today… pic.twitter.com/oBcUTbAGRa
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 16, 2024
No they don’t https://t.co/HF7cLO8nqL
— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) October 15, 2024
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