The feud between Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney has increased dramatically over the past year.
It all began in the build-up to their April 2024 meeting, with both fighters trading insults at one another in the weeks prior to their showdown.
Sections of the boxing world criticised the behaviour of ‘King Ry’ ahead of the fight, with some even believing he shouldn’t be allowed to compete over concerns for his wellbeing.
The 26-year-old missed weight for the bout making him ineligible to win Haney’s WBC super-lightweight title, but a deal was struck for the bout to go ahead and he shocked the world on fight night when he dropped his rival multiple times on his way to a victory on points.
That result was overturned into a no contest when it was discovered Garcia had failed two doping tests. He has maintained that it was a contaminated substance that caused the result, but was fined and suspended for one year by the New York Stat Athletic Commission. A rematch between the two fighters seemed to be the obvious next step once Garcia was eligible to return after his ban in April 2025.
One sticking point appeared to be the Haney camp insisting on VADA testing for a proposed rematch, with Garcia previously stating on social media that he would never use them 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.”
With a rematch between Garcia and Haney now said to be a done deal for later in the year, Garcia has seemingly made a U-turn on his decision to never use VADA, after Boxing Scene reported that he has indeed enrolled in their drug-testing protocol.
Before the second Garcia vs Haney return meeting can take place, both men must first come through separate contests in the interim this May, with ‘King Ry’ set to take on Rolly Romero, and Haney going up against Jose Ramirez.
