Bill Haney Calls Devin “Face Of Boxing,” Suing Ryan Garcia

Devin Haney’s dad, Bill Haney, says his son is the “Face of boxing,” and they’re going after Ryan Garcia over his PED use for their April 20th fight for the “good of the sport.

It’s unclear whose idea it was for Haney to sue Ryan, but this move will likely backfire with no substantial gain. If it was done with the idea of getting more money in addition to getting a rematch, that may not work. If Ryan is bitter about being sued, will he throw Haney a bone by giving him a rematch? I don’t see it.

For all intents and purposes, the lawsuit is Haney’s rematch because he may have shot himself in the foot by choosing to go the legal route. I see it as an either-or situation. Either take the rematch or sue, but you can’t have both. That’s short-sighted.

If the money Haney gets for his lawsuit is more than he would have received in a rematch, it might be worth it to him, but it might not. I wonder how much Haney is hoping to get for the lawsuit. $10 million? It doesn’t seem well thought out.

However, the popularity hit from the fan backlash for Haney’s lawsuit makes it a waste of time because that’s more important.

Bill Haney’s comments in an interview with Boxingscene about Devin being the “face of boxing” are hard to swallow. To fill that type of talent, you have to entertain and produce results, and his fighting style is not fan-friendly.

Bascially, Haney’s a light-hitting finesse fighter in the Shakur-esque mold who jabs, holds, and moves. Those types of fighters are a dime a dozen in the sport, especially when they clinch a lot like he does.

On Friday, Haney filed a lawsuit against Ryan Garcia for alleged battery, fraud, and unjust enrichment for their fight last April, which may hurt his popularity far more than his loss to Ryan.

Devin’s loss to Ryan, his questionable victory over Vasily Lomachenko, and his fight against Jorge Linares showed that he’s not anywhere close to being a top guy. He’s seen as a fighter who beat George Kambosos Jr, a weak three-belt champion, and faded 35-year-old Regis Prograis.

Haney isn’t viewed as the face of the sport after his performance against Ryan when he was beaten up and seemingly saved by the referee in round seven. Devin had his 15 minutes of fame as a brief champion at 135 and 140, but that moment has passed.

When he does return to the ring, he’s likely to move up to 147 because he’s gotten too big for the 140-lb division. It will be hard for Haney at welterweight because they all hit hard, and they would prey on a non-puncher with a history of being hurt.

The sharks in the welterweight division will be waiting on Haney when he moves up, and it could be bad for him. That’s why it’s confusing why he’s messing up that mega-payday he would get in a rematch with Ryan by initiating a lawsuit. It makes no sense.