WBC light welterweight champion Devin Haney says he’s open to a unification fight against IBF 140-lb champ Subriel Matias. If Haney can keep melting down from 165 to 140, a fight between him and Matias can happen.
That will also depend on his ambition and whether he and his dad, Bill Haney, view the Matias clash as worth the risk. Unlike Haney’s last two opponents, both 35 and on the downside, Matias isn’t old and on the downward decline in his career.
Haney’s Defense vs. Matias’ Power
It would be interesting to see if Haney’s defensive fighting style would work against a puncher like Matias. Although Haney’s last opponent, Regis Prograis, had power, he was old, shot, and not in the same class as a killer like Matias. We’d seen from Prograis’ previous fight against Danielito Zorrilla that he no longer had it.
That match-up would allow Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) to pick up a second title at 140. It would put him in a position to negotiate a fight against WBO champion Teofimo Lopez or WBA champ Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero.
Timing and Strategy
Haney needs to focus on his title defense against Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) on April 20th on DAZN at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
If a fight with Matias happens, it might not until down the road, as Haney is talking about wanting to create “generational wealth,” and he will not do that by fighting Subriel. Haney must focus on fighting guys like Ryan, Gervonta Davis, Teofimo Lopez and Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.
“Y’all know what kind of fighter I am – I would fight anybody; I’m a different breed of fighter. These dudes say that, but they’re not really that. I’m really that,” said Haney to the media today after his press conference for his fight against Ryan Garcia on April 20th.
Few fans on social media take what Haney says seriously, as they don’t see him ever agreeing to fight Matias. It’s too risky. The powerful Puerto Rican slugger Matias hits too hard, and Haney has had a chin problem for several years since being dented by Jorge Linares. Hence, Devin has fully adopted the Shakur Stevenson style of fighting, hitting, pulling back, and clinching.
Haney won’t fight against a dangerous puncher like Matias unless he was paid a lot of dough, and that fight won’t pay.
