With the anniversary of their contentious clash just three months away, one might hope that tensions between Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia would have cooled. However, that expectation seems far from reality. The two fighters, who share a history dating back to their amateur days, finally faced off at the Barclays Center on April 20 last year. From the announcement of the fight to the night it unfolded, the event was nothing short of a dramatic spectacle. Even after the bout concluded, the drama continued.

Garcia’s failure to clear drug tests not only nullified his victory but also led to a year-long suspension and hefty fines. The controversy didn’t end there. A few months later, Devin Haney surprised everyone by filing a major lawsuit against Ryan Garcia. Tensions and verbal exchanges persisted even as reports of their potential comebacks surfaced. By the end of the year, Garcia retaliated with a $7.5 million countersuit of his own. With HE Turki Alalshikh expressing interest, talks of a potential rematch continue. However, the animosity between the two fighters shows no signs of easing.

In a recent conversation with Queensberry Promotions’ Dev Sahni, Devin Haney shared details of a recent unexpected encounter with Ryan Garcia. Their discussion began with the ‘champion in recess’ talking about his visit to London for a media workout. As Sahni pointed out, Haney’s tour itinerary wasn’t limited to workouts alone; business also played a significant role.

Discussing his potential comeback, Haney revealed that he is collaborating with HE Alalshikh to finalize plans for this year. Dev Sahni further noted that the head of Riyadh Season has expressed keen interest in organizing a rematch with Garcia. The boxing presenter then shared his interaction with ‘KingRy.’ “Ryan Garcia is here tonight. I spoke with him and said, Is it personal, with you and Devin Haney? and he said, “Yes,” said Sahni.

Devin Haney agreed. “100%, it’s 100%, it’s personal, because you know at the end of the day he cheated, and he got caught, so it’s very personal, and I won’t be happy until that fight is done,” he said.

Dev Sahni delved deeper into the extent of their personal animosity. Garcia was also in London for the Ring Awards ceremony. Hence, there was a strong likelihood that Haney and Garcia might have crossed paths.

Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia: The friction is far from resolved

Devin Haney then revealed how he and his team saw Ryan Garcia at the hotel, and “he didn’t say a word.” Sahni inquired about his state of mind during the brief and uncomfortable encounter. Haney described it as ‘unfinished business’ between him and Garcia.

Discussing the possibility of a rematch during a media workout, Haney expressed optimism about a reunion this year, provided Garcia met certain conditions. Interestingly, Garcia seems to hold similar expectations. Speaking with Radio Rahim at the awards venue, Garcia acknowledged the appeal of a rematch. But he emphasized that for meaningful negotiations to occur, Haney must first drop the lawsuit.

In summary, the Haney-Garcia rematch remains uncertain. With Garcia’s suspension ending in April, fans will be watching closely to see if the two fighters can resolve their differences and move toward an agreement.

What do you think? Should Haney and Garcia set aside their feud and find common ground to deliver the thrilling rematch fans are hoping for?