The legal dispute between boxing champion Devin Haney and the mother of his child, Leena Sayed, has escalated. Just two months after Sayed was granted a temporary domestic violence restraining order against him, Haney has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles accusing her of extortion and defamation.
According to court records obtained by TMZ Sports, Haney’s lawsuit alleges that Sayed threatened his “reputational ruin” and the “loss of rights to visit his daughter” in an attempt to get more money from him. The boxer claims Sayed has “repeatedly published false and defamatory statements about” him and calls her actions “extreme and outrageous.” Haney is also suing for intentional infliction of emotional distress and is seeking unspecified damages.
In a statement released by a representative for the fighter, Haney’s camp emphasized his character and resolve. “Devin Haney has lived his life and built his career with integrity, discipline, and respect,” the statement read. “He will not be extorted, intimidated, or coerced by anyone. He will defend his name, and his values against any false narratives or malicious attempts to undermine his character. Devin Haney stands firm in the truth.”
The lawsuit comes roughly eight weeks after Sayed filed for a restraining order, alleging that Haney had abused her on multiple occasions over the past year and a half. Her application claimed that in December 2024, Haney “pushed me while I was nine months pregnant causing me to fall on my tailbone because I would not give him my cell phone.” While Haney’s lawsuit did not specifically address this allegation, his attorneys did state that Sayed has “fabricated” claims of physical abuse.
Sayed and Haney, who met about two years ago, welcomed their daughter, Khrome, in January. Both parties are scheduled to appear in court for a hearing on the restraining order case early next month.