Devin Haney At A Crossroads – Here’s Why

Devin Haney boxes Jose Ramirez on May 2 on the undercard of Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando Romero, but is he the same fighter? 

Haney will have his first fight since his no-contest against Ryan Garcia last April. He hit the canvas three times, suffering a majority decision defeat. It was the biggest setback of his career after having talked up a big game beforehand. Luckily for Haney, the result became a no-contest once Ryan tested positive for Ostarine. But the fallout from the fight has had significant consequences on his brand. 

Haney responded by suing Ryan for fraud, battery and unjust enrichment. The decision was heavily criticized, with Tim Bradley coming out to say that it was a soft move. Meanwhile, Oscar De La Hoya mocked Haney for using the word battery since he was in a sport where fighters ultimately get hit. Haney also vacated his WBC Junior Welterweight Title after only Top Rank made a purse bid for his then-mandatory fight against Sandor Martin.

Haney’s Problems

So there are several questions that need answering when it comes to Haney’s return. Will he be able to take a punch, given how Ryan managed to walk him down? Haney had shown that his defense was not at the elite level, as he was repeatedly getting hit with the same left hook. Ramirez may fancy his chances by closing the distance and targeting Haney to the body and upstairs.

His boxing record shows that he is able to get his opponents out of the ring. His record stands at 29-2-0. He has 18 knockouts to his name.But he has only secured one knockout win in his last four fights. That was against Richard Commey, who is an elite-level opponent. He enters the fight with a defeat against Arnold Barboza Jr. 

Haney will also have to address whether he can still command the big purses. The fight against Garcia reportedly made him $35 million. He has often talked himself up as the A-side. However, a big problem is that his fighting style does not resonate with the casual fanbase. He has also been called out for trying to mimic Floyd Mayweather, who is considered one of the greatest defensive boxers of all time. Haney’s attacking prowess also does not offer much. His last knockout win was in 2019 against Antonio Moran, showing that he does not have the punch to command the respect of fighters. 

Garcia On Haney

There is also plenty on the line, with Haney knowing that a win against Ramirez sets up a possible Garcia rematch. Haney has said that any rematch can only be done if Ryan enters into VADA testing, something which he has done. Reports indicate the Saudis want to make that rematch in October. The fight is likely to be bigger, given the narrative from the first bout. Haney knows that if he wants to secure another lucrative payday, Garcia can only offer him that. However, Ryan felt that his opponent was not mentally right following their first encounter.

“If Jose Ramirez cracks him, I’m worried for Haney because, psychologically, I don’t think he’s ready for it for something like that. If he gets dropped, it’s going to mess him up. Again, Jose is no pushover. If he catches him and drops him, that’s going to go bad for Haney,” Garcia said 

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