Haney versus Garcia : Observations on Consent and Mutual Vulnerability in Boxing

Abstract: Consent commonly determines the distinction between sexual intercourse and assault. In 2024, boxer Devin Haney extended this logic into the ring through a lawsuit against his recent opponent, Ryan Garcia. The suit argued that because Haney did not consent to a fight against someone using performance-enhancing substances, Garcia's victory was also an assault. Proceeding from Michel Foucault's identification of combat as the ancestor of both juridical procedure and athletic competition, this article examines Haney v. Garcia (2024) in both the ring and the courtroom. It explores the limits to which legalist consent discourse can capture what transpires between boxers and sexual partners, compelling us to embrace more dynamic practices of care in performance and life.