The aftermath of Ryan Garcia’s victory over Devin Haney has been marked by controversy and legal actions, with Garcia now demanding the return of the $1.5 million penalty he paid for exceeding the weight limit in their bout.
Despite Garcia’s victory, which included three knockdowns against Haney, the fight was marred by Garcia’s positive drug tests for ostarine and a metabolite of nandrolone.
Garcia has denied any intentional use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and has since been cleared of the 19-norandrosterone metabolite following negative subsequent test results. However, the issue of ostarine remains unresolved pending the B-sample testing scheduled for May 22.
Devin Haney, on the other hand, has petitioned the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) to disqualify Garcia and declare him the rightful victor. Haney’s attorney has formally requested Garcia’s disqualification based on the failed drug tests.
In response to Haney’s challenge, Garcia took to social media to demand the return of the $1.5 million penalty he paid to Haney for exceeding the weight limit. The penalty was part of the agreement between the fighters, with Garcia honoring the terms by paying Haney $500,000 for every pound he exceeded the 140-pound limit.
Furthermore, in a bold move, Garcia extended an offer of a rematch to Haney amid the cheating allegations. Mocking the accusations against him, Garcia proposed a rematch with unconventional conditions, stating he would only eat oysters during the training camp and deprive himself of sleep.
The situation between Garcia and Haney remains fluid, with unresolved drug test issues, legal actions, and Garcia’s demand for reimbursement of the weight limit penalty dominating the post-fight narrative. The potential for a rematch adds another layer of intrigue to this ongoing saga, as both fighters seek to settle their differences inside the ring once again.
