By Robert Addams: Zab ‘Super’ Judah says he liked what he saw of WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney (24-0, 15 KOs) with his one-sided 12 round unanimous decision win over Alfredo Santiago (12-1, 4 KOs) last Saturday night on the KSI vs. Logan Paul card at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
Judah saw what everyone else noticed in that the tall 5’11” Santiago looked like he was just trying to survive after being knocked down in round five by the 20-year-old Haney. Some boxing fans say Haney was “exposed” by Santiago, but it was more of a case of him fighting a tall fight that wasn’t going to try and win. Haney had to make adjustments once Santiago started fighting in a safety first manner, and that made it hard to look good.
Judah still fighting
As for the 42-year-old Judah’s career, he’s coming off of a brutal 11th round knockout to Cletus Seldin last summer on June 7th. The former two division world champion Judah (44-10, 30 KOs) fought well until he was worn down and stopped by the younger 33-year-old Seldin (24-1, 20 KOs). Judah has been fighting as a professional for 23 years. His fight against Seldin was just his third in the last six years, as he was out of boxing from 2013 to 2017.
Judah impressed with Haney beating Santiago
“It was an excellent performance tonight,” said Judah to Fighthype about Haney’s win over Santiago. “He fought a guy that was game tonight, a guy that wasn’t trying to go to sleep. We showed you that whether we knock you out or go 12 rounds, we got skills. So everything is good. After the knockdown, I think Santiago was trying to survive.
“Devon handled it, and we got an easy win. I like the way that Devin handled a guy that wasn’t trying to get knocked out. Devin tried for the knockout, but the guy was opposed to that. And Devin said, ‘So what? it don’t matter.’ Then he broke him down like he’s supposed to, and like a scientific boxer.
Devin is a counter puncher, so he was going for it. He got it done, and that’s all we can say. It’s good work. His jabs, counter right hooks, he made it happen,” said Judah when asked what adjustments Haney was doing against Santiago. “I don’t know nothing about that [Haney suffering shoulder injury]. No injures, and no nothing. We feel great, and got a great win,” said Judah about Haney.
One thing that impressed this writer about Haney was the way he took the fight to the fight to the inside to nail him with shots. Although Santiago was quick to tie Haney up, he still was able to hit him a lot.
Haney will make the best decision for his next fight
“Whoever it is. Devin makes the best decisions, and we’re going to go with that,” said Judah when asked who Haney should fight next. “Put them up, we’re ready. Every 12 round decision, I learned a lot, man. I learned to be a man in the ring. Once you go 12 rounds against a good A-class opponent, you know what you’re doing. you got a guy that’s skillful, and punches hard, and is fast and good agility.
“You know what you’re doing once you get with those kind of guys, anyone else, you’re ready for. For me, I had the blessing to train with Pernell Whitaker at the age of 15 and 16-year-old. So I was ready for any guy they put in front of me. So from that time, when I was 15 and 16, Pernell Whitaker claimed to be the best fighter in the world.
“How could you not appreciate that kind of situation? And Devon is the same thing, and that’s what I’m telling you guys. Keep watching. The best of Devon Haney is yet to come, I promise you guys. You guys ain’t seen nothing yet.
“Yeah, he’s young. I think tonight was a great platform for Devin Haney. It was another whole situation where another whole audience could tune-in to who Devin Haney is, and for Devin Haney to show the people of the fighting world who he is. That was a great exposure and platform for him, yes,” aid Judah.
Haney’s next fight will be against one of the contenders in the World Boxing Council’s top 15. He wants to fight Ryan Garcia, Gervonta Davis or Vasiliy Lomachenko, but those matches are unlikely to happen.