Ryan Garcia’s beating of Devin Haney left more than a temporary blemish on the 28-year-old’s resume. By the end of 2024, Haney has experienced a nightmarish narrative collapse.
During the April 2024 match, Garcia dropped Haney multiple times, causing Haney to be seriously injured and visibly shaken, perhaps accidentally hearing the final bell. Public opinion was immediate and relentless: Garcia exposed Haney’s folly and overestimation. Does Haney have previous wins over George Kambosos, Vasily Lomachenko and Regis Prograis? If not completely forgotten, at best suddenly dismissed.
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Although Garcia tested positive for the banned substance ostarine, turning the fight into a non-contest, the damage had been done. No lab results could erase the image of Haney being brutally knocked down over and over again. To make matters worse, Garcia’s erratic behavior outside the ring, from wild pre-fight behavior to social media antics, dragged Haney into a clown show that the former undisputed lightweight champion was not a part of in the first place.
Boxing insiders removed Haney from their pound-for-pound lists, if they even ranked him at all, and he was no longer viewed as the elite technician he once was.
A lawsuit against Garcia won’t help either, as Haney alleges his opponent’s drug testing and conduct involve battery, fraud, breach of contract and unjust enrichment. Haney argued that Garcia violated the spirit of their agreement, particularly the spirit of probity and fair play, resulting in personal injury, reputational harm and financial loss. Although Haney later dropped the lawsuit, the damage once again lingered. Not against athletes who test positive for banned substances, but against athletes who break the rules in a sport where fans want the scores to be settled in the boxing ring rather than in the courts.
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Well, what a difference a year can make.
Haney made a two-fight comeback in 2025, creating a Roy Jones Jr.-esque “you must have forgotten” moment, notching two brilliant wins against top-tier opponents to solidify himself as Uncrown’s Comeback Fighter of the Year.
Haney isn’t the only boxer to pull off a remarkable comeback. Manny Pacquiao returned to action in July at the age of 46, looking back on the past with a stunning performance against Mario Barrios, but was ultimately denied victory on the scorecards and instead received a majority draw verdict. While Pacquiao’s return carries enormous historical and emotional weight, Haney’s return demands something different.
Regardless of the outcome, Pacquiao’s legacy is already secure. An eight-division world champion, his career has been defined by landmark fights with Eric Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera, Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather.
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Against Barrios, Pacquiao has nothing to lose considering everything he has achieved.
Manny Pacquiao, 46, was denied the chance to make history against Mario Barrios in July.
(Anadolu, Getty Images)
In contrast, Haney, who should have been in his prime, suddenly relinquished his influence.
Against Jose Ramirez in May, Haney boxed with discipline and controlled tempo against a veteran pressure fighter and former unified champion, reminding observers that his fundamentals and boxing IQ remain elite. Fierce critics continue to follow Haney, however, but even they can’t deny how meaningful his reign over Brian Norman Jr. was in November.
Norman had just emerged as a Knockout of the Year contender against Hitoshi Sasaki, and some expected Norman to cause trouble for Haney. Instead, the fighter under fire answered questions about his stylistic toughness with his typical aplomb against the young, aggressive titleholder. Haney was more aggressive against Norman, knocking him out in a second-round combination, and at least in the first half of that fight, he put in some of his best work in boxing all year.
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Haney defeated Norman for the first time on his record with scores of 114-113, 117-110 and 116-111, becoming a three-weight world champion in the process.
What’s more, with these two wins combined, he’s put the Garcia loss and subsequent drama behind him and now looks ahead to a 2026 that could see even greater success for himself and his brand.
Haney, through his father and trainer Bill, has his sights set on WBA welterweight champion Rolly Romero, but there’s clearly still a big fight on the horizon – a rematch with Garcia.
Both fights are likely to take place in 2026, and if Haney succeeds, he will not only unify the world titles again, but also achieve the most significant revenge of his career.
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Judging by his recent performance, few would be short on him now, as Haney has turned a year that once threatened his status into one that solidified it. Because in 2025, Haney has re-established himself as one of America’s best boxers and reclaimed his place among the sport’s elite.
