The legal battle between two-division champion Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia took a dramatic turn last week. ‘The Dream’ filed the lawsuit in September 2024 after the New York Athletic Commission found ‘King Ry’ guilty of using banned substances, PEDs, during their fight in the summer of 2024. Despite Garcia’s suspension and the decision overturning the Victorville native’s victory over the former undisputed lightweight champion, Haney pursued legal action, accusing Garcia of battery, fraud, and breach of contract.

In a surprising development, Saudi Arabia’s boxing mogul, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, stepped in with a wealth-backed initiative. He met with Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia in London last week during the Ring Magazine Awards, prompting Devin Haney to request a 90-day pause on the lawsuit due to a tentative settlement. This pause is seen as a way to allow both fighters to settle their differences inside the ring, with a potential rematch being scheduled by the Saudi Royal for the second half of 2025, according to a report from ESPN.

While both fighters are eager to resolve the issue through boxing, the lawsuit has attracted criticism from within the boxing community. Veteran boxing trainer Robert Garcia expressed his disapproval in an interview with Radio Rahim on ‘Seconds Out,’ saying, “It should have never been involved… There’s no need for lawsuits. I think this is the first time we’ve seen something like this.”

The Ring Magazine’s 2024 Trainer of the Year Award recipient added, “I could say, maybe for boxing, it’s a little embarrassing for a fighter to choose to get into a lawsuit because his opponent tested positive. I don’t think it was necessary.”

The rematch is anticipated to be more lucrative for Devin Haney than the ongoing lawsuit, with both fighters scheduled to face separate opponents in May. Should they both secure victories, the road to a high-profile rematch will become more defined. In his most recent tweet, ‘The Dream’ hinted at a potential move to welterweight, posting “bye 140” on X. Meanwhile, Ryan Garcia has teased his fans, promising to surprise them with his next opponent.

Who’s Ryan Garcia’s next opponent?

Today, Riyadh Season figurehead HE Turki Alalshikh made waves in the combat sports world by reportedly signing several major names, including rising star Ryan Garcia. Alalshikh took to X to make the announcement, stating, “The deal is done… the opponent is set… big news coming soon… exclusive in the Ring Magazine… let’s get boxing great again,” alongside a picture of Ryan Garcia sitting beside his lawyer, Lupe Valencia, as he signed a two-fight deal.

While many speculate that Ryan Garcia’s first fight may be a rematch against Devin Haney, Forbes has revealed that his first opponent will actually be an undisclosed fighter, with further details to be announced later. Fans expect a Garcia-Haney showdown in the latter half of 2025. As for the ‘KingRy’s future, WBO super lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez hinted at a possible matchup, suggesting he could be Garcia’s next opponent. Lopez retweeted Alalshikh’s post, saying, “Let the games begin! 🤝 @Turki_alalshikh,” to which Alalshikh responded with a series of emojis: “😎🥊🔥.”

What do you think of coach Robert Garcia’s comments? Do you believe Henry Davis was right to pursue legal action against Ryan Garcia over these accusations? Was his lawsuit justified? Share your thoughts below.