The debate is intensifying: will Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney ever meet in the ring for a rematch? Following Garcia’s suspension, fine, and the nullification of his victory due to a positive test for the banned substance ostarine, questions linger about whether these rivals will face off again.
On Friday, Haney, now holding a perfect record of 31-0 after the New York State Athletic Commission’s ruling, announced he is considering a lawsuit against Garcia for damages stemming from their April 20 bout at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. Haney, who suffered a three-knockdown majority decision loss to Garcia in that fight, now confronts a significant drop in earnings. After earning substantial pay-per-view revenue from the bout, Haney was offered just over $1.6 million in a purse bid from Top Rank for his mandatory WBC 140-pound title defense against Spain’s Sandor Martin. Haney has hinted he may vacate the belt and take an extended break instead.
”Everyone was a loser in this fight,” ProBox TV analyst and former 140-pound titleholder Chris Algieri said on Friday’s episode of “Deep Waters.” He noted that Haney’s value in the purse bid was affected by the loss, despite it being expunged from his record. Meanwhile, Garcia’s reputation has been tarnished by the failed drug tests, costing him two fights and tens of millions of dollars due to his year-long suspension.
However, “Deep Waters” analyst Paulie Malignaggi believes a Garcia-Haney rematch will eventually happen, likely at welterweight.
“People want to see this fight: Did [Garcia] really win? Did [the banned substance] really affect him?”
Drop your thoughts in the comments below! Would you watch a rematch?
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