After promoting Devin Haney’s last two fights and singing his praises in the build-up to both, there was an expectancy that Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn would attempt to form a long-term partnership with the WBC super-lightweight champion. However, Hearn has now refused to make an offer for Haney’s next outing, with ‘The Dream’ suggesting that he may take a two-year break from the sport after the disappointment.
Hearn promoted Devin Haney’s debut at 140lbs, where he challenged and eventually whitewashed Regis Prograis to claim the WBC super-lightweight crown. Haney then moved on to a high-profile encounter with Ryan Garcia, that will be remembered for all of the wrong reasons, as Haney lost his undefeated record – only to find out that Garcia had performance enhancing drugs in his system.
‘King Ry’ also missed weight before the bout, meaning the defeat did not end Haney’s reign as champion and therefore his next assignment was to face WBC mandatory challenger Sandor Martin, who ran Teofimo Lopez extremely close in December 2022.
Purse bids went ahead yesterday but ESPN’s Mike Coppinger revealed that Hearn and Matchroom did not even make an offer for the clash, allowing Top Rank to win the rights to the scrap as the lone bidders.
“Top Rank won the rights to the Devin Haney-Sandor Martin WBC junior welterweight title purse bid today with $2,420,000, sources told ESPN. Remains to be seen if Haney will proceed with fight or vacate. His WBC title wasn’t on the line against Ryan Garcia.”
After the news emerged and caused confusion online, Eddie Hearn explained his decision to not register an offer for the contest in an interview with Ariel Helwani, declaring that the fight is simply not ‘appealing’ enough, likely due to Martin’s back-footed style.
“We don’t have a contract with Devin. It’s not an appealing fight, wasn’t a fight DAZN were motivated by or one that had any value. Devin is a free agent and has his own promotional company.”
On social media, Devin Haney shared his frustration at the lack of backing from Matchroom and Hearn and pondered whether he should have made a bid himself, before telling his fans that he will return to boxing in two years to rematch Ryan Garcia and attempt to avenge his lone career defeat.
“I should’ve bid myself. Wow Matchroom, nasty work.
“Ima take some time, spend some of my money, travel the world & I’ll be back in two years after Ryan [Garcia’s] suspension & we can fight again.”
Should Haney stay true to his word and take a break from the sport and assumably vacate the WBC title, Sandor Martin would likely face off with Alberto Puello for the vacant belt, following on from Puello’s upset win over Gary Antuanne Russell last weekend – where was won the WBC interim title. Alternatively, Haney could opt to move up to welterweight to face newly-crowed WBC 147lb champion Mario Barrios.
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