Devin Haney is promising a statement performance in his clash with seasoned Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa on Saturday night.
The WBC 135lbs title-holder faces Gamboa at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Florida, hoping to push his claims for a fight with one of the division’s new wave of stars.
The lightweight class is arguably the most vibrant in boxing at present with unified champion Teofimo Lopez, WBA title-holder Gervonta Davis and the popular Ryan Garcia all vying for supremacy alongside Haney, with Ukrainian maestro Vasiliy Lomachenko remaining very much in the mix.
Haney, still only 21, believes that his 135lbs rivals are giving him a wide berth and that only a poor performance will coax them into the ring.
“Honestly, I feel I have to look bad to get these guys in the ring with me,” said Haney (24-0, 15 KOs). “The better that I look it seems the more they run. I’m going to put on a statement performance, get the job done and beat Gamboa worst than he’s ever been beaten before
“He’s the type of fighter that will bring his all. Every fight he goes in there, no matter if he’s hurt, and lays it all on the line. I have a lot of things that I have to do to get the win on Saturday. The main thing is to go into the ring and dominate, I don’t want to just get the win, I want to make a statement. This will be a statement victory. I want to go in the ring and show Gamboa I’m the best fighter he’s been in the ring with.
“Gamboa is a tough competitor, he comes to fight every single time and doesn’t lay down for anybody. I’m going to bring the pressure, bring the excitement so tune in it’s going to be one hell of a night.”
Main image: Johnny Garcia/Devin Haney Promotions.