Oscar De La Hoya slams ‘frivolous’ Haney lawsuit, says Devin is a ‘shot’ fighter

LOS ANGELES – Devin Haney sued Ryan Garcia for battery and fraud on Friday following their controversial April 20 matchup. 

Golden Boy Promotions was named in the lawsuit as well, as Haney demanded a full review and adjustment of the accounting around the pay-per-view event held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 

For the fight, after a tumultuous promotion, Garcia came in 3.2 pounds over the 140-pound contracted weight limit and knocked Haney down three times to win a majority decision. After the fight, it was revealed that Garcia tested positive for the performance enhancing drug ostarine. The result of the fight was later changed to a no contest and Garcia was fined and suspended for one year due to the violation. 

On Wednesday, Oscar De La Hoya met the media for the first time since Haney’s lawsuit was filed while promoting his November 16 “Latino Night” event in Saudi Arabia. Away from the introductory press conference, the main topic of conversion was focused on Haney’s lawsuit and Garcia’s future. 

“There are big plans for Ryan coming back,” De La Hoya told BoxingScene. “Obviously we have to deal with this frivolous lawsuit that they slapped on us, but that’s all it is. It’s noise. How can you sue somebody that beat the crap out of you? It just doesn’t make sense.

“I don’t think anything about it because when we’re always in the right, you have no worries whatsoever.

“When you do the right thing, when you are positive, and honest to your fighters, when you’re transparent – guess what? At the end of the day, the good guys always win.” 

De La Hoya said he met Garcia at his Golden Boy Promotions headquarters in downtown LA on Wednesday to outline the next steps for Garcia’s return. 

Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) has teased a December fight in Japan in recent months. 

“Don’t know yet. We are figuring it out as we speak,” said De La Hoya. “First things first, we have to get Ryan back to where he belongs in the gym. He was in great spirits when we saw him. He’s doing awesome. He’s focused. He’s learned from what happened in the past. He’s grown as a young man and I gave him a good, nice little speech today on my experiences on how I’ve been through hell and back and survived it. I’m a man who has the experience who can tell Garcia ‘it’s OK. You’re going to be OK.’” 

De La Hoya believes Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) will never be the same fighter ever again after absorbing the kind of beating that he did from Garcia. 

“I don’t think [that the rematch is the biggest fight of 2025] because I believe that Devin Haney is a shot fighter,” said De La Hoya. “Of course [he’ll take the fight if it’s offered.] It’s a lot of money. 

“What I would do [instead of suing] is call that fighter out, get back in the ring, and beat his ass.” 

Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter whose work has appeared on ESPN, Fox Sports, USA Today, The Guardian, Newsweek, Men’s Health, NFL.com, Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Ring Magazine and more. He has been writing for BoxingScene since 2018. Manouk is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube, through email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or via www.ManoukAkopyan.com.