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There was no way Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney were going to share a stage together without the bad blood between them eventually bubbling to the surface.
While they are actually facing different opponents on the same card scheduled in Times Square in New York City on May 2, Garcia and Haney still managed some verbal sparring in anticipation of a rematch. The first fight between them saw Garcia score several knockdowns before earning a decision victory but the result was eventually overturned to a no-contest when the 26-year-old lightweight tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine.
As a result, Garcia’s win was wiped away and he was forced to sit out for one year as punishment from the New York Athletic Commission. While he still has to get through Rolly Romero on May 2, Garcia knows the reward is getting to Haney for a second time.
“I’m really focused on just whooping Devin Haney’s ass again,” Garcia shouted to a crowd in Los Angeles. “That’s all I’m really worried about. Not even to redeem myself, just to cement that bullshit f*cking Ostarine bullshit, which you probably did set up.
“We know you did that! Where’s your little brother? Is your brother in the house? Because your brother knew before everybody else and you don’t answer that question. How did he know before everybody else? Corruption at its finest. They couldn’t take the loss.”
Garcia touting a new conspiracy theory surrounding his positive drug test didn’t seem to rattle Haney too much as he sat stoically on the other side of the stage and responded with a sly smile on his face.
“You know what happened,” Haney said to Garcia. “How did you test positive? You took your punishment because you knew you were guilty. Do not do drugs, kids.”
That final line only served to fire up Garcia even more, although he never escalated the situation from a verbal to a physical altercation.
Instead, Garcia just reminded him that when it came to the boxing in the ring, he got the better of Haney again and again. He also downplayed that Ostarine — a drug listed among a class of banned substances that can potentially assist in training and increase physical stamina and fitness — made any difference in the result.
“That Ostarine don’t help you block a left hook, bro,” Garcia said. “You got hit like a thousand times. You got dribbled off the canvas. You know nothing was taken. You know damn well. Do not do drugs? He had that in his back pocket the whole time.”
It’s already been promoted that if Garcia and Haney win — and both are heavily favored heading into May 2 — that they are expected to meet again later this year. But judging by Monday’s pre-fight press conference, Garcia and Haney appear ready to throw down now rather than later.
