Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney Slated for Fights on May Boxing Card; Could Set Up Rematch
Mike Chiari@@mikechiari
Featured Columnist IVJanuary 16, 2025
Both Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney are set to fight on the same boxing card in May ahead of a potential rematch between them down the line.
The Ring and Riyadh Season head Turki Alalshikh posted a photo of Garcia signing a contract Thursday on X, and Keith Idec of The Ring subsequently reported that the contract is for a bout on a May card that will take place "somewhere in the United States."
While the opponents for Garcia and Haney at that event haven't yet been announced, it is expected that if they both win, they will face each other in a rematch in October.
The first fight between Garcia and Haney occurred in April 2024, and it was marred by controversy.
Haney's WBC super lightweight title was not on the line due to Garcia missing weight, but the fight proceeded anyway, and Garcia turned in a dominant performance, knocking Haney down three times in what was initially ruled a majority-decision win for Garcia.
However, it was later found that Garcia tested positive for the banned performance-enhancing drug Ostarine in pre-fight tests, so the result was changed to a no-contest, and Garcia was suspended for one year.
Had the result stood, it would have represented the first loss of Haney's career, as the 26-year-old entered the bout with a perfect 31-0 record.
It also would have been a massive win for the 26-year-old Garcia, who suffered the first and only loss of his career against Gervonta Davis in April 2023.
Garcia bounced back with an eighth-round knockout win over Oscar Duarte in December 2023 to improve to 24-1, but the Haney win would have been the biggest of his career by a significant margin.
Neither Garcia nor Haney have fought since their encounter last year, so there is logic behind allowing both of them to get back in rhythm before their rematch.
Garcia's suspension is set to end shortly before the May card, leaving him free and clear to get back in the ring.
Assuming both Garcia and Haney are victorious in their in-ring returns, it will set the stage for one of the most highly anticipated boxing fights in recent memory given how their first meeting played out.
