Devin Haney may return to the ring earlier than the top of the yr on one among His Excellency Turki Alalshikh’s playing cards in Saudi Arabia.
This would be the first struggle again for the previous undisputed light-weight champion Haney since his loss to Ryan Garcia final April.
Followers shall be curious about seeing how Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) seems to be bodily as a result of he took a beating from Ryan, and there are questions on his capacity to take photographs with out getting damage or dropped.
The Secure Alternative: Michael McKinson
It’s anticipated that Haney will face a weak puncher to make sure that he doesn’t have issues in his return struggle. He’s within the constructing stage, so he’s prone to be a non-puncher when he makes his debut at 147.
Chris Mannix of DAZN feels that British welterweight Michael McKinson (26-1, 4 KOs) or Alexis Rocha can be good for Haney to struggle subsequent as a result of he ought to safely beat them with out being damage.
“One of many names I considered was Michael McKinson. That, for me, is sensible. Michael McKinson is the 147-lb model of Sandor Martin,” mentioned commentator Chris Mannix on his YouTube channel, speaking about potential opponents for Devin Haney’s subsequent struggle. “He’s good, however he’s not going to harm you.”
McKinson has a difficult model, and he may give Haney issues if he sticks round for the total 10 to 12 rounds. Even with Mckinson’s gentle photographs, he may be capable to benefit from Haney’s fragile state if his punch resistance isn’t the identical from the struggle in opposition to Ryan.
“So long as Devin nonetheless has his wits about him, has his ability set, and has his confidence, that’s a struggle I’d favor him to win. What the [Ryan] Garcia struggle took out of him. I lean extra towards the optimistic facet of that,” mentioned Mannix.
“Regardless that Devin took that beating, he was profitable within the different rounds [where he wasn’t getting knocked down or hurt]. When he was boxing, he was boxing fairly properly. This was not a blowout win for Ryan Garcia.”
Garcia’s poor stamina helped Haney be aggressive within the struggle with Ryan. He was getting drained and solely able to combating in spurts. When Ryan would catch his wind, he was battering Haney and benefiting from him making an attempt to carry. Haney was within the line of fireside of Ryan’s left hooks when he would give ahead, seeking to clinch.
“He does have a robust connection to Turki Alalshikh. He desires to place Devin Haney fights on in Saudi Arabia,” mentioned Mannix. “In the event you come again in opposition to a McKinson sort or an Alexis Rocha sort. You’ll be able to actually argue that Rocha is sort of harmful too. Rocha can punch somewhat bit.”
Selecting Rocha can be a foul thought for Haney as a result of he can punch, which is harmful. If the struggle may very well be made, the secure guess can be McKinson, however positively not Rocha.
“In the event you come again in opposition to a lesser fighter. You’re going to have the ability to lure a champion over to Saudi Arabia. Mario Barrios is on the market on the lookout for a struggle,” mentioned Mannix. “If Devin Haney comes again, I may see him on one of many two end-of-the-year playing cards in opposition to a McKinson sort after which proper into an enormous struggle within the first quarter of 2025.”
WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios can be a beatable champion for Haney to struggle if he will get previous his tune-up struggle on the finish of the yr.
The Garcia Rematch: Inevitable
“Let’s say he [Haney] wins a title. Let’s faux he wins a title in opposition to a Barrios or Stanionis,” mentioned Mannix. “How a lot larger does that make a Ryan Garcia rematch? It makes it enormous. Everyone knows it’s coming. Devin desires to run that again.
“Ryan, when he will get again, shall be on the lookout for an enormous payday. I don’t consider the PPVs had been enormous the primary time round as a result of folks didn’t consider that struggle was going to be aggressive,” mentioned Mannix on the Haney vs. Garcia struggle on April twentieth.
