Devin Haney might return to the ring earlier than the top of the yr on certainly one of His Excellency Turki Alalshikh’s playing cards in Saudi Arabia.
This would be the first battle again for the previous undisputed light-weight champion Haney since his loss to Ryan Garcia final April.
Followers will probably be fascinated about seeing how Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) seems bodily as a result of he took a beating from Ryan, and there are questions on his potential to take photographs with out getting harm or dropped.
The Secure Selection: Michael McKinson
It’s anticipated that Haney will face a weak puncher to make sure that he doesn’t have issues in his return battle. 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 excellent for Haney to battle subsequent as a result of he ought to safely beat them with out being harm.
“One of many names I considered was Michael McKinson. That, for me, is smart. Michael McKinson is the 147-lb model of Sandor Martin,” stated commentator Chris Mannix on his YouTube channel, speaking about potential opponents for Devin Haney’s subsequent battle. “He’s good, however he’s not going to harm you.”
McKinson has a tough fashion, and he might give Haney issues if he sticks round for the total 10 to 12 rounds. Even with Mckinson’s gentle photographs, he would possibly be capable of reap the benefits of Haney’s fragile state if his punch resistance isn’t the identical from the battle towards Ryan.
“So long as Devin nonetheless has his wits about him, has his talent set, and has his confidence, that’s a battle I’d favor him to win. What the [Ryan] Garcia battle took out of him. I lean extra towards the optimistic aspect of that,” stated Mannix.
“Despite the fact 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 moderately properly. This was not a blowout win for Ryan Garcia.”
Garcia’s poor stamina helped Haney be aggressive within the battle with Ryan. He was getting drained and solely able to preventing in spurts. When Ryan would catch his wind, he was battering Haney and benefiting from him attempting to carry. Haney was within the line of fireside of Ryan’s left hooks when he would give ahead, trying to clinch.
“He does have a powerful connection to Turki Alalshikh. He desires to place Devin Haney fights on in Saudi Arabia,” stated Mannix. “In the event you come again towards a McKinson kind or an Alexis Rocha kind. You possibly can actually argue that Rocha is type of harmful too. Rocha can punch a little bit bit.”
Selecting Rocha can be a nasty concept for Haney as a result of he can punch, which is harmful. If the battle might be made, the protected guess can be McKinson, however undoubtedly not Rocha.
“In the event you come again towards a lesser fighter. You’re going to have the ability to lure a champion over to Saudi Arabia. Mario Barrios is on the market in search of a battle,” stated Mannix. “If Devin Haney comes again, I might see him on one of many two end-of-the-year playing cards towards a McKinson kind after which proper into a giant battle within the first quarter of 2025.”
WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios can be a beatable champion for Haney to battle if he will get previous his tune-up battle on the finish of the yr.
The Garcia Rematch: Inevitable
“Let’s say he [Haney] wins a title. Let’s fake he wins a title towards a Barrios or Stanionis,” stated Mannix. “How a lot larger does that make a Ryan Garcia rematch? It makes it big. Everyone knows it’s coming. Devin desires to run that again.
“Ryan, when he will get again, will probably be in search of a giant payday. I don’t consider the PPVs had been big the primary time round as a result of individuals didn’t consider that battle was going to be aggressive,” stated Mannix on the Haney vs. Garcia battle on April twentieth.
