Devin Haney wants an ‘even playing ground’ if he is to take a rematch with Ryan Garcia following their controversial contest earlier this year.
Haney was set to put his WBC Super-Lightweight World Title on the line against Garcia in April this year, but, following an erratic build-up, Garcia missed weight and was ineligible to win the belt. A deal was struck for the fight to go ahead and Garcia would upset the odds, knocking Haney down three times to win a majority decision.
That was overturned to a no-contest when it was discovered Garcia had twice tested positive for banned substance Ostarine. He was also banned for a year by the New York State Athletic Commission and Haney has since brought legal action for battery, fraud and breach of contract.
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Speaking to the media at a London open workout, Haney advised his former foe to follow his lead and sign up to year-round Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency random testing before re-entering the sport when his ban is up this April.
“I think he should sign up for the 24/7 VADA programme, show he’s a clean athlete and then get back to boxing … Of course [I would have a rematch with him], not next obviously because I’m back in March, but it’s definitely possible for 2025.”
Asked about the rematch by IFL TV, Haney said:
“If he’s clean, yeah. We want an even playing ground. I think that’s important. I’m an advocate for it, because being cheated, actually experiencing someone on PEDs. I took the lead and made myself get tested 24/7, 365 because I feel like that’s the proper steps to clean up the sport of boxing. Garcia ain’t the only one taking PEDs, it’s a lot of other people doing it.”
Garcia also wants the return fight, however he has taken to X, formerly Twitter, to announce that he will never be using VADA, the industry standard for top-level fights, again.
“It’s getting really strange why it’s always VADA can we get some other organisations to test? Cause you got Bill [Haney] pushing only VADA, never says any other organisations and it’s strange he’s pushing a certain organisation. Don’t you just want any kind of testing. All this sounds like the people pushing to use VADA are getting some type of cut money wise to have people use VADA. Seems unethical. This is just my opinion.”
” … I will always state my innocence. I’m clean but that organisation I will never use again.”
Whether the pair will ever settle the rivalry remains to be seen, but there is likely too much money at stake for it not to happen at one stage.
