WBC President Pens Heartfelt Message to Devin Haney After Ryan Garcia’s Ban

Ryan Garcia rocked Devin Haney’s boat. Apart from the loss, the setback of three knockdowns in one night is difficult to swallow. ‘The Dream’ was well and truly humbled on April 20 in front of a packed crowd at Barclays Center, New York. However, Garcia’s euphoria following the Devin Haney fight was short-lived as he was rocked by a PED scandal. Just yesterday, NYSAC announced a one-year suspension as ‘KingRy’ was popped for using the banned substance Ostarine ahead of the Haney fight. To Haney’s delight, his loss has been declared a ‘no contest’. Garcia’s guilty verdict is helping Haney get his lost pride and reputation back bit by bit.

But one thing was constant. Amidst all the good times and bad, WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman was there to see Haney progress in his boxing career. A bond forged when Devin was a fifteen-year-old kid trying to make it in the industry has withstood the test of time. On that note, Sulaiman took a moment to celebrate Haney’s rise through the ranks in his boxing career.

To my dear Devin Haney!

A lifelong association was established when Don Majeski, a reputed fight agent, had arranged a meeting between a teenager and the WBC president in Las Vegas. Back then, Haney was making a lot of noise in the amateur circuit. As the “WBC took him under his wing”, Haney went on to win many more accolades. The WBC President took to Instagram and wrote, “Supporter his several fights as a youngster in Tijuana, conquered the WORLD WBC Youth title, the NABF, International, silver, interim.”

The post was accompanied by a series of photos that showed Haney grabbing one belt after another, with Sulaiman providing the much-needed support in his journey. Safe to say, the WBC president was there to witness Haney turn pro at the age of seventeen, and light up the scene, fighting at pool halls and bars in front of a hostile Mexican crowd as he was too young to get a boxing license in his own country. Ten of Haney’s first fifteen professional fights were in Mexico.

Thus, it was quite evident that Haney’s crowning moment as the undisputed lightweight champion, and then his subsequent win over Regis Prograis to win the WBC super-lightweight champion, would also get a mention in Sulaiman’s post. “Then WORLD lightweight championship to then become UNDISPUTED. WBC set him to directly challenge Regis Prograis in which he conquered the WBC super lightweight.”

Sulaiman then proceeded to laud Haney for the “professionalism and determination” he showed to face Garcia, who “did not make weight” and therefore had a “dramatic weight and size advantage” over him. Despite the loss, the 25-year-old boxer earned Mauricio’s “highest esteem and respect” after he “fought back like the champion he is” till the final bell.

Meanwhile, on the professional front, Haney is not done with Garcia. As if Garcia’s current woes weren’t enough, Haney is looking to sue him for further damages.

Just the ban ain’t enough!

According to Haney, the loss to Garcia, which has now been tainted by the PED conviction, has caused irrefutable damage to the fighter’s reputation. To build his case, Haney pointed out that his promoter Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing‘s reluctance to put in a bid to stage the WBC mandatory fight against Sandor Martin could potentially lead to an enormous loss in terms of the fight purse. His fear? In the aftermath of the Garcia fight, which has now been declared a “no contest,” matchmakers wouldn’t be willing to put him on any upcoming showcase events.

As Benson reported, “Devin Haney has declared that he’s planning to take further legal action against Ryan Garcia following his one-year drugs ban. Haney is adamant he would be earning more for his next fight had the Garcia situation never happened and believes the Sandor Martin purse bids show this to be true.”

Is Haney right to pursue further legal action against Garcia? How would Garcia hold up amidst mounting legal troubles and personal setbacks? Let us know in the comment section below.