Boxing
Devin Haney Returns: Considering Opponent Options
Published
5 months agoon
Devin Haney could return to the ring before the end of the year on the undercard of His Excellency Turki Alalshikh in Saudi Arabia.
This will be former undisputed lightweight champion Haney’s first rematch since his loss to Ryan Garcia in April of last year.
Fans will be interested to see how Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) looks physically, as he was dealt a beating by Ryan, and there are questions about his ability to take punches without getting hurt or knocked down.
Safe and sound choice: Michael McKinson
Haney is expected to face a frail puncher to ensure he has no problems in his comeback fight. He is in a building phase, so he probably won’t be a puncher when he debuts at 147.
DAZN’s Chris Mannix believes that the ideal fight candidate for Haney would be either British welterweight Michael McKinson (26-1, 4 KOs) or Alexis Rocha, as Haney should be able to beat them comfortably without getting hurt.
“One of the names that came to mind was Michael McKinson. That makes sense to me. Michael McKinson is the 147-pound version of Sandor Martin,” commentator Chris Mannix said on his YouTube channel, talking about potential opponents for Devin Haney’s next fight. “He’s good, but he won’t hurt you.”
McKinson has a tough style and could give Haney trouble if he lasts the full 10-12 rounds. Even with McKinson’s frail punches, he could take advantage of Haney’s breakable state if his punch resistance isn’t the same as it was against Ryan.
“As long as Devin still has the brains, skills and confidence, this is a fight I would predict he will win. What [Ryan] The Garcia fight wore him out. I’m leaning more towards the positive side of this,” Mannix said.
“Although Devin took a beating, he was successful in the remaining rounds” [where he wasn’t getting knocked down or hurt]. When he boxed, he boxed pretty well. It wasn’t a landslide victory for Ryan Garcia.”
Garcia’s indigent stamina helped Haney be competitive against Ryan. He was tired and only able to fight in fits and starts. When Ryan caught his breath, he pummeled Haney and exploited his attempts to stay. Haney was in the firing line of Ryan’s left hooks as he threw punches forward, looking for a clinch.
“He has robust ties to Turki Alalshikh. He wants to book Devin Haney’s fights in Saudi Arabia,” Mannix said. “If you go back to fighting someone like McKinson or Alexis Rocha. You could certainly make the argument that Rocha is pretty risky as well. Rocha can hit a little bit.”
Rocha would be a bad choice for Haney because he can strike, which is risky. If the fight could happen, McKinson would be a safe and sound choice, but definitely not Rocha.
“If you come back and fight a lesser fighter. You can lure the champion to Saudi Arabia. Mario Barrios is there looking for a fight,” Mannix said. “If Devin Haney comes back, I see him on one of two cards at the end of the year against a McKinson guy, and then in a huge fight in the first quarter of 2025.”
WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios would be a possible title shot for Haney if he can survive a prep fight later this year.
Rematch with Garcia: Inevitable
“Let’s say he [Haney] wins the title. Let’s pretend he wins the title against Barrios or Stanionis,” Mannix said. “How much bigger is the rematch with Ryan Garcia? That makes it huge. We all know it’s coming. Devin wants to do it again.
“Ryan, when he comes back, he’s going to be looking for a huge payday. I don’t believe the PPVs were huge the first time around because people didn’t believe it was going to be a competitive fight,” Mannix said of the April 20 Haney vs. Garcia fight.
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Boxing
BrianNorman Jr. prepares his father for a shocking comeback after 14 years
Published
10 hours agoon
January 23, 2025Undefeated twenty-four-year-old welterweight world champion Brian Norman Jr. he has been coached by his father, Brian Norman Sr., since he was seven years elderly. They changed course and Junior is now training Senior for his February 15 boxing match against Greg Hackett in Atlanta, Georgia.
The long-running feud between Brian Sr. and Hackett came to a head in November when the two participated on Coach Malachi’s Tru Media podcast. Things got heated when Norman told Hackett, “As an opponent, you were getting $400 to basically lose. You lose for a living.
Shortly thereafter, it was decided that they would lace them up and settle them in the ring. The event will be broadcast live on BLK Prime PPV.
Norman (17-11, 5 KO) from Atlanta and Greg Hackett (3-23) from Philadelphia will decide the result in a six-round lightweight heavyweight fight.
“I’m trained by a world champion who I trained to become that world champion,” Brian Sr. said. “He has the knowledge that I gave him. Now he can see this vision of what he is telling me, which is the same thing I was telling him. At the same time, he can visualize himself through me, observing how I respond to instructions. Ultimately, he helps himself as much, if not more, than he helps me.”
So, Junior, you’re getting him back after everything Dad’s been through all these years?
“Has it been a wonderful journey so far,” Brian Norman Jr. said. “I see a lot of similarities between me and him, mainly the drive for self-determination and the desire. It was a wonderful experience to witness. There were a few times when Dad got tired and wanted to stop and I shouted “no, two more rounds.” I have to push him, you know? We don’t like to lose – we’re both very competitive and I see that in him all day long.
“I like the way this fight turned out and it’s good for boxing,” Hackett said. “There’s no animosity here, but I’m going to hate him for eighteen minutes of our fight. There are many people who say they don’t want to go there, but we will go there. I’ve been training since the day it happened. It’s going to be a good fight. I think he’ll push it because he’s a bigger guy, but skill-wise I’m the better player. I just have to be prepared for whatever he brings to the table and make him pay for his mistakes. I will win this fight, whether by knockout or decision. I will win this fight.”
Boxing
Deontay Wilder: Warning against throwing in the towel on the fat suit myth
Published
1 day agoon
January 22, 2025Deontay Wilder is preparing to return to boxing this year and will face an opponent who has lost eleven times in Curtis Harper.
Wilder is on a losing streak, winning just once in his last five fights. The first of these four defeats remains a huge bone of contention. Wilder exploded with emotion after a one-sided rematch in February 2020 at the MGM Grand.
The “Brown Bomber” blamed everyone but himself for what happened when Fury beat him and put him through seven painful rounds. WBN witnessed the fight in the smoke-filled Garden Arena. Despite the sight, it was clear that Fury was the much better fighter that night.
Fury brought Steward SugarHill into his corner to make him more aggressive. The tactic paid off brilliantly as he regained the world heavyweight title. However, this was not what became the story of the event. Unfortunately, Deontay Wilder took that away from the “Gypsy King” with his post-fight accusations.
Wilder’s main target under his deal was Mark Breland. His longtime coach threw in the towel when the Tuscaloosa player came under massive fire and stared at his feet. But that’s not where Breland went wrong. Wilder’s problem was that the 1984 Olympic gold medalist ignored his previous instructions and never used a towel to end one of his fights.
That’s why Wilder was so irate, as he later told Brian Custer in “The Last Stand.”
“I have been preaching for five years. Never give up on Deontay Wilder,” said the former WBC champion.
The 36-year-old believed he could detonate on Fury at any time due to his one-punch KO skills.
“Deontay Wilder is never out until this is all over, because of my heart, my will and the strength I have. And yes, I really feel like he was part of it and it’s not my place to explain that to anyone. I said my peace and let out my emotions. I said it. People can believe what they want.”
Another story that got out of hand was the massive suit excuse. Wilder pointed out that he only mentioned something behind the scenes and someone in the media blew it up.
“They actually overheard something in the locker room,” Wilder explained. “I’m not justifying the costume. The costume was a bit massive. But it wasn’t enough to make me feel the way I felt in the ring. It wasn’t enough that I had no legs.
Strangely, however, Wilder blamed this part on someone who potentially gave him a demanding time. He will strive to ensure that the decision never falls on Malik Scott, who replaced Breland as coach.
Boxing
Ryan Rozicki is waiting for Badou Jack’s consent to mandatory cooperation with the WBC
Published
1 week agoon
January 13, 2025The World Boxing Council (WBC) ordered world cruiserweight champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack (20-1-1, 19 KO) to make a mandatory title defense against Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (20-1), number 1 in the WBC ranking – 1, 19 KOs).
If both camps fail to successfully negotiate an agreement, the WBC will organize a tender on February 4, followed by the Jack vs. Rozicki. Rozicki’s promoter, Three Lions Promotions, immediately sent Team Jacek an offer to promote the fight in Canada last week.
“We are waiting for their counteroffer,” explained promoter Dan Otter of Three Lions Promotions. “Boxing has had a huge resurgence in Canada and Ryan is leading the way. He is one of the most electrifying and hardest-hitting fighters in boxing, definitely in the cruiserweight division. He wants the WBC green belt and ultimately the unification of the division. Ryan will fight Jack anywhere for the belt.”
29-year-old Rozicki, born in Sydney (Nova Scotia) and living in Hamilton (Ontario), fought 22 professional fights against 21 different opponents (twice against Yamil Alberto Peralta), stopping 19 of the 20 opponents he defeated. an eye-opening 95-KO percentage.
Jack, 41, was a 2008 Olympian representing his native Sweden. He is a three-division world champion, as well as the WBC super middleweight and World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight heavyweight title holder. Jack has a record of 5-0-2 (2 KO) in world championship fights.
“We respect Jack and I don’t want to sound disrespectful,” Otter added, “but he’s over 40 years vintage and has been relatively inactive for two years (only one fight). He brings a lot of experience and respect to the ring, but he will fight a newborn defender with a lot of power. Jack is going to struggle and honestly, I don’t think he’ll make it past the first few rounds.”
Ryan Rozicki is on a mission to become the first Canadian cruiserweight world champion.
The next move is Badou Jack’s.
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