Haney submits formal request to disqualify García

Everyone knew that it was coming. He warned us, but now it has been made official. Devin Haney (31-1-0, 15 KO) has issued a formal request for Ryan García (25-1-0, 20 KO) to be disqualified. After Garcia failed two drugs tests, Haney said that he would petition for the fight to be annulled. Garcia is still under investigation over the test results, but continues to maintain his innocence.

A letter by Haney’s attorney, Pat English, reads, “We request that Mr. Garcia be disqualified, which is more fitting than a no-contest in this situation.”

Ryan defeated Haney on April 20 by a shocking unanimous decision in which he sent the champion to the canvas up to three times. Garcia played the heel in the run up to the bout, encouraging speculation that he had lost his mind. Missing weight wildly, going 3.2 pounds over, the WBC super lightweight belt was taken off the table. Garcia also had to forfeit $1.5 million of his purse to Haney. “Since the Commission did not require a weigh-in on the second day, it is impossible to know how much he weighed on the night of the fight,” Haney’s lawyer stated in making the formal petition to the New York Athletic Commission (NYSAC).

“After the bout, Garcia stated publicly that he had lied and he was overweight in order to get a competitive advantage over Haney,” continued English. “Had Garcia not lied about his purpose, Haney would not have proceeded with the bout against him and/or would have taken steps to protect himself.”

A few weeks ago, all the alarms went off when García tested positive for ostarine, a banned substance used to increase muscle mass and strength. English’s letter makes the point clear, saying, “Ostarine is sold on the black market for its performance enhancing properties. At no time did Devin Haney consent to engage in a bout against a boxer who was positive for a performance-enhancing drug, and would not have proceeded with the bout had he known. The New York State Athletic Commission would not have permitted the bout had it known of the positive finding.

“Representatives of Mr. Garcia have publicly suggested that the Ostarine was found in trace amounts. In fact, while there are a couple of Commissions in the United States which permit trace amounts of Ostarine [and New York, WADA and VADA are not among them], the samples quantities were 35 to 60 times the amount considered in those jurisdictions to be trace amounts.”

“Adding insult to the commission and to the sport of boxing, Mr. Garcia has alleged that he was ‘high as f*** during’ his bout with Mr. Haney. This very clearly brings disrepute on the sport of boxing and, by derivation, on the New York State Athletic Commission.”