Haney lost that fight, but it didn't stay that way. Garcia got caught up in a doping scandal. The result? The fight got thrown out, and Garcia got slapped with a one-year ban.
Now, "The Dream" Haney's gearing up for his comeback. He's taking a page out of Floyd Mayweather's book and trying on a new persona. In a chat with The Ring magazine, Haney spilled the beans on his new strategy.
"That's when Floyd became the big star, when he became the villain. I think the same thing. Then I'll become a big star... People want to see me lose now. They want to pay to see me lose. So I'm happy."
Haney's not just dipping his toes in the villain pool. He's diving right in.
"I feel good being the villain. I was secretly the bad guy, but I acted like the good guy. Now I can come out of disguise and be myself."
This shift comes as Haney and his dad, Bill, who's also his manager, have been catching flak for their opponent picks. But Haney's not letting it get to him. He's ready to stop playing nice and show his true colors.
The boxing world will have to wait and see if Haney's new attitude pays off when he squares up against Ramirez on May 2. Will this be the start of a villainous reign for "The Dream"? Only time will tell.