Undefeated lightweight prodigy Devin Haney, Matchroom Boxing’s latest acquisition and – according to promoter Eddie Hearn – the future of American boxing, makes his DAZN debut this Saturday night at the MGM National Harbour, Maryland against Antonio Moran.
Haney punches with surgical precision and blistering hand speed, and as a result has amassed an impressive record of 21 wins with thirteen of them being inside the distance. His slick style and scintillating combinations have even prompted comparisons from certain quarters – no doubt also considered hyperbolic and premature by some – with Floyd Mayweather.
The youngster last year delivered a spiteful beatdown to lightweight fringe contender Mason Menard; showcasing physical strength, poise and patience beyond his years, coupled with a predatory finishing instinct that many consider a necessary attribute to succeed as a professional.
Haney also produced an impressive display in February with a comprehensive rout dangerous South African Xolisani Ndongeni on the main event of a Showbox card.
The self-proclaimed ‘Dream’ is undoubtedly a major coup for Eddie Hearn as the British promoter endeavours to make significant inroads into the American market, and it was recently speculated that Haney would be challenging Luke Campbell for the WBC title vacated by Danny Garcia.
Unified lightweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko took precedence over Haney, however, and the young American will continue to bide his time and look good before the inevitable world title shot materialises.
After two sensational performances at heavyweight, it would have been reasonable for Michael Hunter to believe that he had hit the jackpot when his countryman Jarrell Miller tested positive for a plethora of performance-enhancing substances; something which left unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua without an opponent merely weeks away from a scheduled appearance at Madison Square Garden.
Hunter, an accomplished boxer-puncher and former cruiserweight World title challenger, was at one point the betting favourite to ultimately be announced as Anthony Joshua’s opponent for June 1st. Indeed, he would have been a respectable opponent and someone who would have certainly brought some interesting attributes to the table against Joshua.
For example, speed, movement, and accurate combination punching that enabled him to spring a surprise against the bigger and stronger Martin Bakole, before pummelling Alexander Ustinov into submission throughout nine rounds. In April 2017, Hunter also produced a decent showing against current pound-for-pound superstar Oleksandr Usyk, seemingly frustrating the Ukrainian slightly in the early rounds, in addition to demonstrating incredible toughness to withstand a late onslaught from the southpaw in the last round.
‘Bounty’ Hunter will now be looking to augment his heavyweight credentials and assert himself well and truly as one of the bonafide ‘big boys’ against Fabio Maldonado, an unheralded albeit heavy-handed Brazillian who has knocked out all but one of his victims. Maldonado, a former mixed-martial artists, was previously scheduled to face Nathan Gorman before withdrawing with an injury.
Elsewhere on the card, undefeated heavyweight prospect Filip Hrgovic returns to action, facing Gregory Corbin in just his eighth professional contest.
Hrgovic, who counts American veterans Kevin ‘Kingpin’ Johnson and Amir Mansour among his scalps in his short career, has been mooted by many as a potential star of the future – and was even mentioned as a potential replacement for Jarrell Miller following his removal from his bout with Anthony Joshua.
For now at least, 26-year-old Hrgovic continues to gain valuable experience as he looks to make an immediate impact on his Matchroom Boxing debut this evening.
Article by: Navi Singh
Follow Navi on Twitter at: @DarkMan________