Ryan Garcia’s trainer, Derrick James, says it’s going to be difficult for Devin Haney to come back from the beating he took from his fighter Garcia last Saturday night.
After the fight, Haney’s face was visibly swollen on both sides, looking much different than when he began the contest. Recovering from the punishment that he took against Ryan will take time, and it’ll be difficult to be the same fighter.
Haney’s Difficult Road Back
Derrick feels that Haney (31-1, 15 KOs) would have been better off if he’d been knocked out by Ryan (25-1, 20 KOs) rather than being methodically ponded for 12 rounds, losing a majority decision at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Haney lost by the scores 115-109, 114-110, and 112-112.
Haney was knocked down three times in the fight, and it was only due to his clinching that he avoided being knocked out.
Despite losing, Haney is still in possession of the WBC light welterweight title. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed that Haney is still the champion with their organization at 140.
“I think it would have been better for him to get knocked out because it’s going to be harder for him to recover from getting beat up like that,” said trainer Derrick James to the media when asked if it would have been better for Devin Haney to have been knocked out by Ryan Garcia rather than beaten up.
What’s Next for Haney?
Ryan Garcia: Rematch
Sandor Martin: Haney’s mandatory challenger
Isaac Cruz: WBA
Teofimo Lopez: WBO
Subriel Matias: IBF
Richardson Hitchins
Mario Barrios: WBC interim 147-lb champion
Gervonta Davis: Big money fight but dangerous
Haney is going to have to defend against his WBC mandatory Sandor Martin next unless his promoters want to pay a step aside.
Martin might be the best option for Haney’s return because it would be too risky for him to fight a unification against IBF champion Subriel Matias or WBA champ Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz because those guys can punch.
Some boxing fans feel that Haney’s trainer should have pulled him out of the fight in the seventh round when he hit the canvas four times and soaked up punishment.
After the seventh round, Haney was no longer competitive, and just taking hard shots from Ryan from rounds eight through twelve.
