Devin Haney Reacts to Ryan Garcia Suspension – Exclusive Interview

Since Ryan Garcia defeated Devin Haney, controversy has surrounded the result, with Garcia testing positive for PED use, pre and post-fight. On June 20, Dan Rafael broke the news that “KingRy” had agreed to be suspended for one year, beginning from the fight night of April 20. He also agreed to forfeit his salary of $1.1 million and for his win to be ruled a no-contest. Following the news of the suspension, Devin Haney has reacted to the news in an exclusive interview with Dan Rafael on the Big Fight Weekend preview podcast.

Devin Haney Reacts to Ryan Garcia Suspension

Devin Haney Talks Commission and Remaining Undefeated

Haney was understandably pleased the New York State Athletic Commission had taken action: “I want to thank the New York State Athletic Commission for doing the right thing and making the right decision,” Haney told Fight Freaks Unite. “I’ve seen a lot of people standing up for what’s wrong and not right. Performance enhancing drugs should be in no sport, especially boxing. Every time we step in the ring we put our lives on the line. I just want to be on an even playing field every single time that I step in the ring.”

He continued: “It could have happened to anybody. I’m thankful it happened to me because I’m strong enough to be abletake what happened and move forward and have it not break me.”

Read More: Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia: Five Things We Learnt 

“The Dream” also spoke about the commission’s decision to change the result to a no-contest as opposed to awarding him a DQ win: “I wouldn’t have wanted to have a victory that way. I’m a real fighter,” said Haney, the former undisputed lightweight champion. “I’ve gotten 31 wins stepping in the ring and winning the right way. I wouldn’t have felt right it being a victory on my record when I didn’t win the fight.”

Haney added: “But the loss comes of my record because I wasn’t on an even playing field. I stepped in the ring with a guy that was taking performance enhancement drugs and at the end of the day it’s not a fair fight and I wasn’t in a fair fight. It was the right thing for (the loss) to be removed. I can only thank Allah that justice was served.”

Listen to the exclusive interview below with Devin Haney as Dan Rafael and TJ Rives preview the upcoming weekend’s boxing action on the Big Fight Weekend podcast.

Garcia’s Legal Team Respond

Following the news of the suspension and fine, Garcia’s legal team issued a statement and are keeping to the narrative that their fighter tested positive because of contaminated supplements: “Ryan Garcia was a victim of substance contamination, with levels measured in the billions and trillions of a gram, which provided no advantage whatsoever in the ring,” the statement said, but offering no proof or documentation to support their assertions. “Ryan, with his legal team, has resolved this issue and firmly maintains his truth: he never intentionally took any banned substance. It’s simply not in his nature.”

Read More: Devin Haney Defeats Regis Prograis With Career Best Performance

The statement continued: “For many years, Ryan has voluntarily submitted to random testing, even during out-of-competition periods, and has never had any issues. He has maintained an impeccable and clean record throughout his career, significantly elevating and transcending the sport of boxing, earning respect and admiration from millions of fans worldwide. The fans will always remember his performance against Haney as a masterclass and that will never be erased.”