By Adam Baskin: Undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney says he plans on vacating his Ring Magazine title in response to not being included in their top 10 pound-for-pound list.
Devin, 23, posted on Twitter his disappointment about not making the list and his intentions on no longer possessing the Ring Magazine title in response.
Haney (28-0, 15 KOs) feels that he should be on the list, given that he’s one of the two four-belt champions in boxing. It’s unclear why Ring Magazine left Haney off the list, but perhaps they felt that he didn’t possess enough significant wins during his career.
Though he did recently beat unified 135-lb champion George Kambosos, that obviously wasn’t a big enough victory for Haney to make the list. He likely needs a win over Vasily Lomachenko, Gervonta Davis, or Ryan Garcia to make the top 10 pound-for-pound list.
If you look at Haney’s resume, it’s hard to make a case that he deserves to be on the pound-for-pound list because he hasn’t beaten any of the elite fighters at 135.
Haney’s best wins:
- Jorge Linares
- Joseph ‘Jojo’ Diaz
- George Kambosos Jr
- Alfredo Santiago
- Zaur Abdullaev
The ring magazine could keep their belt… You won’t see me with it before or after this fight! 🤝 https://t.co/88MiGAw0IU
— Devin Haney (@Realdevinhaney) August 25, 2022
“The youngest undisputed champ of the four-belt era… & not on the pound 4-pound list is crazy, especially when guys who don’t even hold the ring magazine belt currently made the list gtfoh…,” said Haney on Twitter.
“And to be clear, I’m not obligated to wear the ring magazine belt; if I earned it, then I earned it rather I wear it or not! So to ask for it back just shows y’all never wanted me to have it in the first place!” said Haney.
No problem… DM address & I’ll have it sent out brother 🤲🏽 https://t.co/LZmyqJ7V2r
— Devin Haney (@Realdevinhaney) August 26, 2022
Haney will eventually make Ring Magazine’s pound-for-pound list once he starts beating the elite-level fighters at 135 or 140. If Haney stays at 135, Top Rank is interested in matching him against Vasyl Lomachenko early next year.
It would be smart for Haney not to swerve that fight because it’s the type of match-up that will help build his status as one of the best fighters in boxing.
Of course, if Haney’s father, Bill Haney, doesn’t believe he’s up to the task of fighting Lomachenko yet, he can always avoid the fight and continue to face other guys that he’s confident of beating.
