Devin Haney gambled on his career and chose to sue Ryan Garcia over the events of their April 20th collision earlier this year in Brooklyn, New York.
If Haney loses the lawsuit, it could hurt his career, make him a pariah with top-level fighters and treat him like one of the untouchable class. The lawsuit is a huge gamble, and it could sink Haney’s career and leave him far worse off than he would have been.
Did Haney make the wrong move?
Perhaps what Haney should have done instead of a lawsuit was to generate interest in a rematch with Ryan Garcia by doing regular interviews and posting on social media. By the time Ryan’s suspension ends in April 2025, there will be huge fan interest.
Haney would have the revenge angle, and he wouldn’t be seen as weak as many fans now see him because of his lawsuit. Even if Haney had lost the rematch, he still would have made a lot of money.
There is a very real potential that Haney’s lawsuit could result in him forever losing the chance at the biggest payday of his career in a rematch with Ryan, which would be a huge missed opportunity.
If Haney wins his lawsuit and is awarded tens of millions, it may not matter. He will have enough money from the lawsuit after giving his lawyer his share of the chance to live comfortably without worrying about his stomach-churning career. It almost did, but the lawsuit would be the final end.
The lawsuit could hurt his chances of getting other big name fighters to face him unless His Excellency Turki Alalshikh takes him under his wing. Turki would have the money to attract fighters to face Haney, but other than that he could be an outcast. It is unclear how Turki will view Haney after all this. Will he see him as worthy of pumping money into his career, as he has done with the aging Terence Crawford, Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, or will he ignore him?
Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine and was 3.5 pounds overweight for what was originally scheduled to be a title fight at 140 for Haney’s WBC light welterweight belt.
“Devin’s father made big decisions for his son. I think it’s another great decision,” coach Greg Hackett said Battle hypewho responded to Devin Haney filing a lawsuit against Ryan Garcia, alleging fraud, battery and unjust enrichment for their April 20th fight.
Choosing to sue Ryan doesn’t seem like a well thought out idea as it seems like a move made on emotions rather than seeing the big picture. If you look at the lawsuit from a narrow perspective, it makes sense, but now, when you see how it ruins Haney’s chance at a rematch. If Haney is shunned by top fighters from now on, he will have shot himself in the foot.
Is Ryan Garcia being milked?
“My thoughts are a little different. I would want to hurt Ryan Garcia (in the ring), but in the business world and in the financial world they always use that term, ‘You gotta hit him where it hurts,’ which is the bank,” Hackett continued.
“I could see Devin doing that because not only was he doing the right thing, but we really want to make you pay for it. We really want him to understand that (stuff) wasn’t cool, and it doesn’t have to happen again,” Hackett said.
If Haney thinks his career is over, the lawsuit makes sense. However, if Haney sees it as a way to Ryan Garcia milks like a cow to get as much money as he can from him and then get a rematch, he may be disappointed.
“You never know. This might be something Devin wants to do to keep the attention going. I wouldn’t do it, but I can’t be mad at him for doing it. In the entertainment world, it is a totally different world than what we are used to in everyday life. Sometimes you have to deal with stuff like that,” Hackett said.
“If something did happen, we’re talking about an entire empire (Haney’s career), and it took years to build. Boom! They won’t let him stop making money if something stupid happened to the kid because of him. So, you should sue him.
