Devin Haney leaning towards Yuriorkis Gamboa for November 7th

By Boxing News - 09/17/2020 - Comments

By Chris Williams: Devin Haney says he’s probably going to be fighting Yuriorkis Gamboa on November 7th, but Gary Russell Jr is still in play for that date. Haney (24-0, 15 KOs) isn’t happy with the issues that he’s had with the WBC featherweight champion Russell (31-1, 18 KOs) over the offer that was sent to him.

Russell had a problem with a line in the offer in which is said that the fight with Haney was contingent on DAZN and Matchroom both agreeing to it. Gary felt that they should have already given the green light to Haney before an offer was made for a fight. Russell wasn’t going to sign anything unless he knew that DAZN and Matchroom had given their OK to Haney to fight him.

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn made it clear this week that he wants Haney to fight the 39-year-old Gamboa (30-3, 18 KOs) next on November 7th on DAZN. So if Russell is going to get the fight, Haney, 21, will need to stand up and let Hearn know that’s the guy he wants.

If Haney is going to let Hearn make the call, then it’s already been made. He wants Haney to face former IBF/WBA 126-pound champion Gamboa, who is coming off of a 12th round knockout loss to Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis last December.

Gamboa was injured in that fight, and there’s no word on the status of the injury. We’re assuming that Hearn has been told that the 2004 Olympic gold medalist Gamboa has tested his injured ankle out and can resume fighting.

Image: Devin Haney leaning towards Yuriorkis Gamboa for November 7th

Gamboa and Russell possibilities for Haney’s Nov.7th fight

“November 7th is the date,” said Haney to Fighthype. “It’s still two names [Russell Jr and Yuriorkis Gamboa], but as of right now, Gamboa looks like he’s going to be the opponent. If Gary Russell wants to step up, he can still step up.

“My father was willing to do whatever he could to make the fight [with Russell] happen. I think he said that he would come up to 135 because he thought I wouldn’t want the fight, or we couldn’t get the fight made.

“That’s why he said that and was so quick to say it. Then we decided, and we got the money, ‘let’s do it’ Then it was something totally different [from Russell]. Gary can say what he wants. The fight can be made. I’m tired of going back and forth with it.

“I’ve said what I had to say. My father said what he had to say. Gary doesn’t want the fight. We’re going to move on from the situation. We’re wasting time and giving him more attention than he actually even deserves.

“In reality, he never had plans to fight me and wanted to fight me. So why would I give him attention now? I know for a fact that DAZN would have picked up the fight. We never brought the fight to him until we knew that Eddie [Hearn] and DAZN was 100% on board,” said Haney.

Russell Jr says he’s waiting for his adviser Al Haymon to call him back to discuss putting the fight together with Haney. The Haney-Russell fight is still doable, but it’s going to come down to Haney to make it known to his promoter Hearn that he wants the fight. If not, Hearn will go with his first choice of Gamboa.

Haney won’t receive credit if he beats Gamboa due to him coming off of a 12th round knockout loss to Tank Davis.

Hearn is likely picking Gamboa because he wants boxing fans to be able to compare Haney’s performance to that of Tank’s. That could be a mistake on Hearn’s part, as a healthy Gamboa could give Haney pure hell.

YouTube video

Devin wants to knockout Gamboa

“The whole arsenal,” said Haney when asked what he’s looking to show in the Gamboa fight compared to his recent match against Tank Davis. “I’ll go into the fight and be 100% focused.

Of course, ideally, I would want to,” said Haney when asked if he wants to knockout Gamboa faster than Gervonta Davis did. “I’m going to go in there and showcase my skills, and we’ll see what happens.

“That’s part of the game in breaking an opponent down to the body. I’m excited about November 7th, no matter who it is. I can’t wait for it. It’s been almost a year since I was in the ring. My last fight was on November 9th. Gamboa is a veteran.

“You can’t go in there and just try and manhandle him. he knows how to survive, and he knows how to fight back. Whatever game plan my team comes up with, I’m going to execute it. He’s still a big puncher and still a crafty veteran.

“Tank didn’t just go in there and manhandle him. He [Gamboa] went in there, and he was injured the whole fight. So he’s still dangerous. You can’t underestimate him. You could see that he was injured. Everyone saw it.

“Everyone knew something was wrong, whether it was his shoe or foot. Something was wrong. He had surgery, I think. We shall see,” Devin said when asked if he’ll see a superior Gamboa than the one that Tank did. “With those types of guys, you can never count them out,” said Haney.

Tank may have softened Gamboa up enough for Haney to knock him out, but maybe not. Haney isn’t much of a puncher, and if he tries to slug with Yuriorkis, he could be inviting trouble.

Gamboa punches harder than Haney, and he has better hand speed. He’s also the superior combination puncher, and his experience is on another level.

Image: Devin Haney leaning towards Yuriorkis Gamboa for November 7th

It would be a shame if Haney loses to Gamboa, being that he’s just starting his career. Losing to someone like Gamboa would be a huge setback for Haney.

Gary Russell Jr still interested in Haney fight

“For the people that are wondering, we’re definitely still trying to make this fight with Devin Haney,” said Gary Russell Jr on Instagram. “It’s all these people saying ‘just sign the contract, this that and the third’ Y’all some dumb mother-f***** for saying some s*** like that because you don’t know what’s in the contract or whatever.

“I’m not somebody that just signs a piece of paper, and none of the information is 100% correct, and it’s binding me to something that’s not 100% legit. It’s a concept of business. You know I am a fighter, but it’s a concept of business first.

“Y’all need to understand that to the stupid people out there. But we’re definitely trying to make this mother-f**** fight happen. They’re talking about some fight on December 7th. The reason they put this November 7th date out there is because that was a date that they were already obligated to Devin Haney.

“He was already in camp, and he was already training. Even if me and Devin Haney hadn’t gotten in this conversation and started talking, he would be fighting someone on November 7th because that was the date that Matchroom and DAZN had available for him.

“I’m definitely in the gym. I’m always in the gym. It’s a way of life for me. Even when I’m not getting ready for a fight or even when I’ve concluded my career, I’m still going to be in the gym. But I’m not training to get ready for a fight before the end of the year. A proper camp is eight weeks,” Russell Jr said.

Image: Devin Haney leaning towards Yuriorkis Gamboa for November 7th

Russell Jr needs to move fast if he wants to get the fight with Haney before it’s given to Gamboa. For Russell to be still talking about the fight, it shows that he wants to fight Haney. He sees weakness in Devin that he plans on exposing. However, it’s not as big of a fight as the one that Russell wanted against Terence Crawford.

Russell optimistic

“So all this talking, and they’re trying to fake manipulate the fans that spin this s***. Stop this s***, man,” said Russell.  “Y’all know what it is. We’re definitely trying to make the fight. As of now, I hollered at l [Haymon].

“I’m still a free agent, but we still have a business relationship. I hollered at Al. I don’t know for sure, but this is a fight [Haney] that I definitely want to make happen. Matchroom and DAZN aren’t backing him, apparently because they’re only supporting the November 7th date.

“So let’s see what we can do. There’s a big possibility that we might make something shaking. This fight is much bigger than what everyone is saying, so let’s make something happen because they’re doing a lot of talking.

“I’m one of those guys that are willing to put it all on the line. Mother-f**** Mikey Garcia got something slick to say, and he got his a** beat by Errol Spence when he moved up in weight. He just survived, and he survived for 12 rounds.

“He didn’t even attempt to win. I’m a different type of dog. You’re going to have to take me out on my shield. I’m going to be trying to knock you out. I’m going to be trying to get you out of there.

“If a mother-f**** is going to get me, they’re going to have to get me because I’m trying to get them. I ain’t no survival s***, Mikey. Stop this s***, man.

“I just wanted to let the people know. We’re definitely trying to make this fight. I’m waiting for Al to hit me back, man. I just wanted to put it out there. I’m going to holler at y’all,” Russell Jr said.