NEW YORK – Devin Haney hopes more fighters follow his lead before it’s too late.

Haney took it very personally when Ryan Garcia failed a performance-enhancing drug test following their 12-round fight a year ago. From Haney’s perspective, how could he not?

Boxers obviously risk their lives every time they set foot in the ring. An artificial advantage in an already dangerous game is so unacceptable to the former undisputed lightweight champion that Haney would implement a one-strike PED policy, which would remove offenders from the sport before they are afforded an opportunity to do it again.

The 26-year-old Haney demonstrated how serious he is about extensive PED testing when he enrolled in the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association’s year-round testing program. Haney is subject to VADA testing 365 days per year, which means the private testing agency would be within its right to send a tester to collect a blood and/or urine sample from the Henderson, Nevada resident even when he is on a vacation outside of the United States.

”I’m an advocate for clean boxing now because I’ve been a victim of cheating,” Haney told The Ring while promoting his fight against Jose Ramirez on Friday night in Times Square. “And so now I wanna be a spokesperson for it because I know how important it is. And that’s why I do 365, 24/7, all-year-round testing, because I think that needs to be done in boxing. Because a guy can cheat and it could be no repercussions for it. So, I wanna catch these cheaters. I don’t want another fighter to come up and experience what I experienced in the ring.”

The hard-hitting Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs, 1 NC), of Victorville, California, dropped Haney three times – once apiece in the seventh, 10th and 11th rounds – and won their welterweight bout by majority decision last April 20 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The result of their fight was changed to a no-contest because Garcia tested positive for ostarine. The New York State Athletic Commission also suspended Garcia for one year and fined him $1.2 million.

If Haney (31-0, 15 KOs, 1 NC) beats Ramirez (29-2, 18 KOs) in their 12-round welterweight bout and Garcia defeats Rolando “Rolly” Romero (16-2, 13 KOs) in the 12-round main event Friday night, Garcia and Haney have contractually committed to a rematch that will take place sometime in October. Though Haney believes Garcia should’ve been banned from boxing for life for failing a PED test, the Oakland native is looking forward to “redeeming” himself in a second fight with his rival.

“It’s definitely hard to not take it personal when we can lose our life in the ring,” Haney explained, “and a guy goes in there and cheats and get a slap on the wrist. But it’s boxing. Allah is the perfect planner. He makes no mistakes, so everything happens for a reason. I had to get over it to, you know, move forward. Whatever it is, the past is the past. Right now, my main focus is Jose Ramirez. And then we’ll focus on Ryan after. But right now, to get to Ryan and get my redemption, I need to beat Jose Ramirez. And that’s what I look to do on May 2nd.”

Haney, The Ring’s No. 1-ranked junior welterweight contender, will fight for the first time Friday night since his competitive clash against Garcia. Ramirez is no longer rated among The Ring’s top 10 contenders in the 140-pound division.

Haney-Ramirez is the co-feature of The Ring’s “FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves” event Friday night in Times Square. This DAZN Pay-Per-View show, which will also include a 12-round bout between Ring and WBO junior welterweight champ Teofimo Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) and Arnold Barboza Jr. (32-0, 11 KOs), can be ordered for $59.99 in the United States.

The May 2 card can be bundled with another DAZN Pay-Per-View event scheduled for the next night for $89.99. The May 3 card, sponsored by Riyadh Season, will showcase Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs), who will face Cuba’s William Scull (23-0, 9 KOs) in a 12-round bout for Alvarez’s Ring, WBA, WBC and WBO and Scull’s IBF super middleweight titles.