Devin Haney has gambled with his career, choosing to sue Ryan Garcia over the events of their April 20th clash earlier this year in Brooklyn, New York.
If Haney loses the lawsuit, he could have hurt his career, making him a pariah with top-level fighters and treating him like one of the untouchable class. The lawsuit is a huge gamble, and it may sink Haney’s career, leaving 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 begin creating interest in a rematch with Ryan Garcia by conducting frequent interviews and posting on social media. By the time Ryan’s suspension is over in April 2025, there will be massive fan interest.
Haney would have the revenge angle, and he wouldn’t be seen as weak, as many fans now see him due to his lawsuit. Even if Haney lost the rematch, he’d still have made much money.
There’s a very real potential that Haney’s lawsuit could result in him forever losing the chance for the biggest payday of his career in a rematch with Ryan, which would be a major missed opportunity.
If Haney wins his lawsuit and is awarded tens of millions, it might not matter. He’ll have enough money bankrolled from the lawsuit after giving his lawyer his chunk of the take to live comfortably without worry about his career having gone belly up. It pretty much has already, 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 lure fighters to face Haney, but apart from that, he could be an outcast. It’s unclear how Turki will view Haney after all this. Will he see him as worthy of pumping money into his career, as he’s 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 came in 3.5 lbs overweight for what was originally scheduled to be a title fight at 140 for Haney’s WBC light welterweight belt.
“Devin’s father has been making great decisions for his son. I think this is another great decision,” said coach Greg Hackett to Fighthype, reacting to Devin Haney filing a lawsuit against Ryan Garcia, alleging fraud, battery, and unjust enrichment for their April 20th fight.
It doesn’t seem like a well-thought-out idea to choose to sue Ryan because it seems more like a move made on emotions rather than viewing the big picture. If you’re looking at the lawsuit from a narrow perspective, it makes sense, but now, when you take how it ruins Haney’s chance of a rematch. If Haney is avoided by top fighters from now on, he’ll have shot himself in the foot.
Is Ryan Garcia Being Milked?
“My mind is a little different. I would want to hurt Ryan Garcia [in the ring], but in business and in the financial world, they always use that term, ‘You got to hit him where it hurt,’ which is the bank,” Hackett continued.
“I could see Devin doing that because not only wasn’t what he did right, but we really want to make you pay for it. We really want him to understand is that [stuff] wasn’t cool, and it doesn’t need to happen again,” said Hackett.
If Haney figures his career is over, the lawsuit makes sense. However, if Haney sees this as a way of milking Ryan Garcia like a cow to get as much money as he can from him and then get a rematch, he could be disappointed.
“You never know. That 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’s a totally different world from what we’re used to in everyday life. Sometimes, you got to handle things like that,” said Hackett.
“If something did happen, we’re talking about a whole empire [Haney’s career], and it took years to build. Boom! They wouldn’t let him make no more money if something stupid happened to the kid from his doing. So, you got to sue him.
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