Super Lightweight… Welterweight?
A bad trait of boxers who have their fathers as their trainers is they’re too close to the action. The ability to see the much grander picture get blurred. Does it outweigh all the positives? Well, that’s on a case by case basis. But it seems one such fighter is on the verge of a move that appears ready to happen. At least the first steps.
If you look Devin Haney‘s record, there should be a two in the loss column. Both to Vasiliy Lomachenko and Ryan Garcia. Not because of being a fan or not, but because that’s what watching those fights closely told you truly what happened. Now he’s in his own head, as if being dogged by the “fans” isn’t bad enough.
Not liking the fact his former promoter Bob Arum won the purse bid for the Sandor Martin is one thing. You learn to just suck those things up. But to relinquish the strap is silly. Especially in a fight where sure, you’ll be tested. But better than even money says you get the victory.
This Saturday night, Teofimo Lopez should do what’s expected. Putting away Steve Claggett, with relative ease. He’s then going to be called out by another TOP RANK fighter. And that’s a scrap that woulda, shoulda, coulda happened by now. If the build up between fighters wouldn’t get you salivating, the back and forth between two outlandishly chirping fathers would get the job done. Nobody would turn away from that fight.
For as inconsistent as Lopez is, he has more pop and better handspeed. Haney’s footwork is better. However, he’s also overly defensive and lacks true knockout power. Both have solid technique overall, although Haney has never been sloppy throwing leather. In a combo flurry, Lopez can be.
A Move That Appears Ready To Happen
There is underlying hurt feelings in the Haney camp with Arum. If they admit it or not. Now there’s the same thing with Eddie Hearn with the perception of lack of commitment. But Haney does have Haney Promotions, so we’ll see if he’s now willing to throw his own money into things. Is he “running” from Martin, or Lopez for that matter, highly doubt it. What it might be more of is a case of “daddy got your ear”.
Billy Haney is like every other super proud father. But he has hinted in the past that 140 is not where his son will stay. Without the strap around Haney’s waist to worry about, or Garcia part two; he might be pushing his son to make the move now. There’s no doubt that he won’t wake up one morning and want to scrap at welterweight. They will make the move slowly and correctly.
Who would he target at 147? One name probably off the list immediately is Conor Benn. Sure, he’d like to stick it to Hearn, but after dealing with one fighter failing drug tests, he’s not about to jump to another one. Although it would be favorable for him. Yes Benn has explosive power and loves to come forward. But Benn’s hands are always low, and defensively moves back in a straight line with no head movement. And he stays in range too long. Something Haney can pick apart with his jab.
He wouldn’t get one of the bigger guns in the division straight away. So you could see the WBC push for an even safer fight for Haney. Someone like an Abel Ramos. While he’s as gritty and as blue collar as they come, and throws volume, Haney would be able to stay on his bike and counter him to death. With picking up a win by points.
Then perhaps he does the Garcia rematch at 147.
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