Tim Bradley has a different verdict on Devin Haney after seeing his last performance.
Haney has been tipped for the top pretty much since he first emerged in the pro game. He had a tough early schooling that saw him fight in Mexican pool halls before he was of a legal age to fight in the US.
Trained by his father, he quickly shot up through the ranks and now, aged just 24, he has already become an undisputed lightweight champion having beaten the likes of Vasiliy Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr.
His most recent fight saw him move up to super lightweight and deal convincingly with Regis Prograis to win the WBC title and make him a two-weight world champion.
Many believe his mixture of ring IQ, athletic and technical ability make him a problem for anyone, not to mention a jab that is regarded as one of the best in the game right now.
Speaking on ProBox TV, former champion Bradley revealed just how impressed he was by Haney’s latest showing.
“If this is the best Devin Haney, I’m sold people. I thought Devin Haney was a good fighter, but I didn’t think he was a great, great, great fighter, a special fighter. What I saw last night was unbelievable. The way he was able to control the centre of the ring, the way he was exiting, pivoting, the sharp right hands down the middle.”
Bradley then went on to discuss Haney’s power before saying he was wrong in his previous assessment.
“I think he does have power but not one-punch devastating power. He put Regis on the canvas but caught him by surprise and caught him rocking. That tells me that they did their homework.
Props to [coach] Bill Haney, you were able to figure out Regis, your son looks spectacular, the best performance of his career. I was wrong and I’ve never been so wrong in my life.”
Following the victory over Prograis, Haney seemingly has two men in his sights for the future.