By: Sean Crose
“WBC super lightweight world champion Devin Haney has requested to be placed as Champion in the break,” the World Boxing Council announced Monday via a press release. “The WBC Board of Governors unanimously accepted Champion Haney’s request and declared him WBC World Champion during the break.” And so Haney, after a controversial loss to Ryan Garcia, vacated the WBC junior welterweight title.
“At the same time,” the WBC continued, “the WBC Board of Governors has declared current Interim World Champion Alberto Puello as the WBC World Super Lightweight Champion…subject to its Rules and Regulations, the WBC will Orders free negotiating period for Champion Puello’s mandatory title defense against WBC No. 1 ranked challenger and mandatory challenger Sandor Martin.”
Haney’s reign as WBC junior welterweight king was a relatively short one. After winning the undisputed lightweight world championship by defeating the great Vasyl Lomachenko in an extremely close fight, Haney moved up to the junior welterweight division and fought Regis Prograis for Prograis’ WBC title. It was a highly anticipated bout, but when all was said and done, it was Haney who reigned supreme – in his hometown of San Francisco, no less. However, then came the fight with Garcia last April.
Despite finishing the fight on his feet, Haney took a terrible beating from Garcia, being dropped three times in three different rounds en route to a decision loss. It was all very strange, as Garcia jumped into contention for the scheduled weigh-in while claiming he had been drinking before the fight. However, there is no denying Garcia dominated his man fair and square. That was until it was discovered that Garcia tested positive for the banned substance ostarine in tests performed before and after the Haney fight.
Due to a positive drug test, Garcia was stripped of his victory over Haney by the New York State Athletic Commission. However, although he was at least somewhat vindicated, there is no doubt that Haney was harmed by Garcia’s performance in their fight (how would things have played out if Garcia had illegal drugs in his system is simply an unanswered question).
Another question is what will Haney do from here? There’s no doubt he has talent, but – fair or not – he was thoroughly beaten by Garcia. Such things can have physical and emotional impacts. Again, fighters are a rare breed. Haney, if he comes back strong, certainly won’t be the first fighter to have an impressive comeback.
Image: WBC
