Devin Haney opened up about Ryan Garcia's power after their controversial fight in April 2024. The former WBC Super Lightweight World Champion experienced three knockdowns in the bout, which was later overturned to a no contest.
Garcia came in three pounds overweight for the title fight, making him ineligible to win the belt. Despite this setback, he knocked Haney down in rounds 7, 10, and 11. Haney admitted he was caught off guard by Garcia's left hook.
He caught me early … It caught me by surprise. I fell asleep on the left hook. We trained for it but I got in there and fell asleep … I was more surprised than hurt. The first time I wasn't really hurt. He went in there and jumped on me, like I knew he would, but I was sleeping.
The fight's outcome took an unexpected turn when Garcia tested positive for a banned substance twice. As a result, the initial majority decision win for Garcia was overturned to a no contest, and he received a one-year suspension.
Haney now questions the true extent of Garcia's natural power. In an interview with All The Smoke Fight, he shared his thoughts on the impact of performance-enhancing drugs:
PEDs, I mean it's going to enhance whatever you already got. He wasn't a bum fighter before that. He wasn't just trash. He always showed power and speed before that. PEDs gonna enhance whatever you got. I don't care whatever you say, why are they banned? Why do we test for them? If [that substance doesn't give you an advantage] we shouldn't even f***ing test for them.
With Garcia's suspension ending this month, both fighters are set to return to the ring on the same card. Haney will face Jose Ramirez, while Garcia takes on Rolando 'Rolly' Romero. If both emerge victorious, fans might see a rematch between Haney and Garcia in the second half of 2025.
