When it comes to boxing’s elite, no fighter targets the best more than WBC super lightweight champion Devin Haney, who takes on Californian speedster Ryan Garcia at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on April 20.
Former undisputed lightweight king Haney is on a roll right now. Last May, the American sharpshooter earned a 12-round unanimous decision over former pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko before outpointing the highly rated Regis Prograis seven months later.
After becoming a two-weight world champion, Haney immediately pursued the talented Garcia, who happens to be an old amateur rival. However, despite Garcia’s overall quality, the uber-skilled Haney has settled in as a prohibitive -600 favorite (by BetMGM) prevailing.
LOOK: Devin Haney vs. Ryan García, live on DAZN
As is always the case, fight fans enjoy looking to the future and there are plenty of big fight options available to Haney should he back down from Garcia’s challenge.
The Jugo Mobile takes a look at four potential opponents and offers a probability rating for each (1. Highly Unlikely 2. Unlikely 3. Possible 4. Likely 5. Highly Likely):
Will Devin Haney fight Tank Davis?
Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
Haney vs. Tank is the biggest fight available at 140 pounds, which is probably one of the reasons fans will have to wait forever and a day to see it.
While Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) is currently campaigning at lightweight as the WBA champion, the hard-hitting southpaw from Baltimore has fought at super lightweight before. In December 2021, Tank earned a points victory over Isaac Cruz to claim the WBA “regular” title in this pision.
However, there is a lot of vitriol and ego at play, with both teams insisting they are the A side in a potential showdown; Haney because he is the most decorated wrestler and Tank because he is an established PPV star.
Don’t hold your breath.
Probability: 1/5
Will Devin Haney fight Shakur Stevenson?
This matchup almost happened at 135 pounds.
After Haney outpointed Lomachenko to retain the undisputed lightweight title, Stevenson was installed as his WBC mandatory challenger. However, Haney, who was struggling hard to make it to lightweight, gave up his belts and moved up.
Subsequently, Stevenson (21-0, 10 KOs) outlasted Edwin De Los Santos in a dull duel to collect Haney’s former WBC crown.
The pair have gone back and forth on social media, with Stevenson volunteering to fill in for Garcia should he pull out of the April 20 date. There’s almost no chance of that happening, but the fight could take place later this year.
Stevenson is represented by Top Rank, with whom Haney – a free agent – still maintains a good relationship.
Probability: 3/5
LOOK: Devin Haney vs. Ryan García, live on DAZN
Will Devin Haney fight Teofimo López?
This is a tremendous fight that should be easy to make, but there are warning signs.
Lopez (20-1, 13 KOs) is the WBO and Ring Magazine champion at 140 pounds and is an exceptional talent. In October 2020, “The Takeover” dethroned Lomachenko to claim the unified title on the lightweight and pound-for-pound lists.
After struggling in subsequent fights, Lopez rediscovered his old form to snatch the titles he now holds from previously undefeated Josh Taylor last May. In terms of history and lineage, López is therefore the man to beat.
However, the 26-year-old from Brooklyn has been woefully inactive and unpredictable in recent years. Lopez retired after Taylor’s victory only to reverse that decision three months later and constantly falls in and out of love with the sport.
Haney has welcomed the fight, but multiple sources have reported that Lopez is close to closing a deal to face unknown Steve Claggett on June 29 in Miami.
Probability: 2/5
Will Devin Haney fight Subriel Matías?
Matias (20-1, 20 KOs) is the IBF super lightweight champion and the pision’s bogeyman, but his reputation as a puncher doesn’t faze Haney.
During a recent media meeting in Las Vegas, Haney was asked about the possibility of a unification showdown with the Puerto Rican knockout artist. “They are using [the bogeyman tag] sell it, but for me it’s no bogeyman,” said the WBC boss. via FightHype. “After this fight [with Garcia]we can explore that struggle.”
Matias was recently signed by Matchroom Boxing, with whom Haney has a strong relationship. In terms of station and promoter affiliations, this one seems trouble-free.
The only thing that could get in the way is money. Matías is not as big a star as Tank, Stevenson or López, so it will be difficult to get dollars for super fights. There is no serious demand for the fight and some hits in the bathtub are definitely required.
Therefore, it is crucial that Matías makes a statement against the undefeated Liam Paro, who he will face on his return home on June 15.
