Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn weighs in on the news about Ryan Garcia testing positive for banned substances for his fight with Devin Haney and the reaction he has along with his fighter Haney. Here are some excerpts of what Hearn had to say below.
“I woke up to missed calls from Devin and a text saying ‘Call me ASAP,’ and spoke to him and he’s devastated because he’s obviously it’s a bit very difficult for him to overcome the loss, but particularly difficult now to take the loss when he was 3 1⁄2 pounds over and a loss that he fought a man who had performance enhancing drugs in his system.
“I believe everybody should have the right to protest their innocence. Unfortunately in this situation it’s guilty until proven innocent — I’ve been there, right. But one thing we 100% know in this situation is that when he entered the ring he had performance enhancing drugs in his system.
“So that’s incredibly difficult for Devin Haney to take. And the fight will become a no contest whether it was intentional or not intentional, it was still in him when he fought. It’s not fair but every fighter deserves the opportunity and now it’s a tough fight.
“Ryan has now got to get himself together with Oscar and Golden Boy and they’ve got to take this on. I’ve been there, I’ve done it for two years, I’m still going because I believe in my fighter. If they believe in Ryan Garcia they’ll have to take that fight with him.”