Devin Haney can come back from his loss to Ryan Garcia to continue to have a successful career, but it’s going to be tough for him to defeat the best at 140.
Haney met his match last Saturday night against the new and improved version of Ryan (25-1, 20 KOs), who showed that he’s gotten a lot better since his seventh-round knockout loss to Gervonta Davis in 2023.
There’s certainly nothing for Haney to be ashamed of losing to Ryan Garcia. Haney ran into the biggest puncher in the 140-lb division, a fighter with power on the level of Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, and he couldn’t cope. It’s a credit to Haney that he was able to take those punches without getting knocked out.
That said, referee Harvey Dock certainly helped Haney get out of his tough spot in the seventh round by stopping the action to deduct a point from Ryan for hitting on the break moments after he knocked him down.
Ryan would have knocked out anybody in the 140 or 147-lb division with the shots that he hit Haney with last night.
Haney’s toughest competition
Vasily Lomachenko
Jorge Linares
Regis Prograis
Joseph ‘Jojo Diaz
George Kambosos x2
Ryan Garcia
Having matured in the last year and not drained from game-changing weight stipulations from the Tank fight, Ryan was too powerful for Haney, and he took advantage of his habit of clinching by hurting him with a short-range combination on the inside in the seventh.
Haney can come back from this loss to Ryan, but it’s too much to ask for him to improve on his power or to move up in weight to compete with the killers his own size, like Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.
The Path to Continued Success
For Haney to continue to win and make money, he’ll have to be selective in the opposition he faces. He’ll have to continue to be an opportunist, doing what he’s been doing his entire career. He’ll have to stay away from dangerous guys like Subriel Matias, Teofimo Lopez, and Jamaine Ortiz because they’re too good for him.
An excellent fight for Haney would be Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz because he has a better chance of beating the 5’4′ WBA light welterweight champion than he would if he fought Matias, Teofimo, Ortiz, or Ryan Garcia.
It’s going to get a lot harder for Haney (31-1, 15 KOs) to move up to where many boxing fans believe he should be competing at 147 and enjoy the same kind of success that he’d been enjoying.
With limited power and hands-speed, Haney has achieved a lot during his nine-year professional career, becoming a two-division world champion and undisputed champ. He’s fought many good fighters and got a lucky break against Vasily Lomachenko.