WBC lightweight champion Devin ‘The Dream’ Haney (25-0, 15 KOs) missed an opportunity to send out a statement to the 135lbs division on Saturday night, labouring to a lopsided unanimous decision victory over Cuban veteran Yuriorkis Gamboa (30-4, 18 KOs) in Florida.
Making his first appearance since undergoing shoulder surgery at the end of 2019, Haney’s controlled – and largely uninspiring – performance against an ageing Gamboa drew criticism from fans and fellow fighters alike; with lightweight rivals Teofimo Lopez and Gervonta Davis chiming in with their own withering assessment of the 21-year-old.
Photo: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Brooklyn’s Lopez (16-0 12 KOs), who shocked the boxing world last month with a stunning upset win over Vasiliy Lomachenko, was quick to stick the knife in, taunting Haney for his controversial ’email champion’ status.
Having added the WBO/WBA & WBC Franchise titles to his IBF strap with victory over the Ukrainian star, Lopez has established himself as the division’s consensus number one. Having been earmarked as a potential future opponent, the new lightweight king appeared less-than-impressed with Haney’s outing against Gamboa.
With Haney in possession of the ‘full’ version of the WBC title, fans and media alike have called for the two men to meet in order to rid the lightweight title picture of unnecessary confusion. It is a fight that Haney called for once again in his post-fight interview.
“I am interested in my mandatory of course but I want all the belts” said Haney.
“Teofimo Lopez has the rest of the belts so I want to make the undisputed fight.”
Photo: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom.
Elsewhere, WBA regular titleholder Gervonta Davis (24-0, 23 KOs), whose recent viral KO of four division champion Leo Santa Cruz exploded across social media, was even more scathing in his assessment, mocking Haney for his apparent lack of weight in his punches – as well as in his wallet.
Haney would fire back at Davis, pointing to his own underwhelming showing against Gamboa back in December 2019, before ‘Tank’ responded with a picture of him flooring the former Olympic gold medallist en route to a twelfth round stoppage. A feat Haney was unable to replicate.
Despite posturing from all three on social media, it is unclear as to whether the exciting new crop of lightweight hotshots will face-off in the ring any time soon.
With unbeaten pin-up boy Ryan Garcia due to return against Britain’s Luke Campbell on December 5th, the division is fast becoming the most-talked about in the sport.
However, in the case of Devin Haney, this past weekend will be viewed as a missed opportunity to join the conversation as the top dog at 135lbs.