Devin Haney Enters The Proving Grounds

By: Hector Franco

This weekend on the Michelob Extremely Enviornment in Las Vegas, NV, WBC light-weight titleholder Devin “The Dream” Haney (25-0, 15 KOs) will try to make the third protection of his title in opposition to former three-division champion Jorge Linares (47-5, 29 KOs).

Haney, 22, has turn out to be one of the controversial world champions in boxing since changing into the WBC light-weight belt holder in 2019.

Haney gained the WBC interim light-weight title in September 2019, scoring a fourth-round stoppage over Zaur Abdullaev. In October 2019, the WBC elevated former unified light-weight champion Vasiliy Lomachenko as their franchise champion within the division.

With Lomachenko being the WBC franchise champion at light-weight, Haney was elevated to full-champion standing for the WBC.

The WBC’s franchise standing has solely added to the championship calamity in boxing.

Whereas Haney has had some stable wins for a fighter of his age, his standing as a world champion has come into query. Many consider that he was given a world title quite than having earned one within the ring.

When Teofimo Lopez defeated Vasiliy Lomachenko final October, the bout was for all 4 main world titles at light-weight; nevertheless, for the WBC, solely the WBC’s franchise distinction was on the road. This slight discrepancy made Lopez’s standing because the undisputed light-weight champion one which could possibly be disputed.

For his half, Lopez has made it identified that he doesn’t take into account Haney to be a real world champion.

“He ain’t the WBC champion,” Lopez acknowledged to Boxing Scene. “He’s the e-mail world champion. He’s the true definition of pretend it til you make it. The one factor that that’s holding him related proper now could be that fake-ass belt.”

Towards Linares, Haney could have the chance to show himself and his legitimacy as a world titleholder. The Venezuelan fighter has held titles at featherweight, tremendous featherweight, and light-weight, holding victories over fighters like Oscar Larios, Anthony Crolla, and Luke Campbell.

Linares has additionally been the definition of a world champion, having fought in eight totally different international locations, together with Japan, Venezuela, Panama, Argentina, Korea, Mexico, the UK, and the US. He has fought most of his fights in Japan, having made his professional debut within the nation and combating there about 24 instances.

The 35-year previous Linares has confirmed to be a extremely expert technician all through his profession; nevertheless, all 5 of his losses have come by stoppage. Three of his 5 losses got here within the first two rounds in opposition to fighters that have been thought of heavy underdogs.

His losses to Juan Carlos Salgado and Sergio Thompson have been stunning and sudden. Linares’ most up-to-date defeat got here by the hands of Pablo Cesar Cano in January 2019 with a first-round stoppage.

Linares’ profession is a reminder that something can occur whenever you step contained in the ring. No matter his defeats, the Venezuelan has confirmed to be a high-level fighter extra instances than not and represents a big step up in competitors for Haney.

“It means every thing for my profession,” Haney mentioned to Matchroom Boxing in a promotional interview on social media. “That is, on paper, the hardest check for me. This combat means every thing. If I don’t get previous him, then I don’t go into the larger and higher fights.

“This can be a combat for me to showcase every thing and present the world that I’m elite.”

For Haney, the combat with Linares will likely be his probability to ascertain himself additional as a world champion. Ought to he get previous the veteran, fights of higher significance for his pockets and legacy will likely be accessible.