Devin Haney appeared to have fired Keith Thurman after the former unified welterweight champion questioned whether Haney could dominate the 147-pound division.

Thurman offered his assessment in an interview, saying he wasn’t confident Haney would be able to make it through the welterweight division despite recent wins over Jose Ramirez and Brian Norman Jr.

“After his loss and victory against Ryan Garcia, the pedigree he has in terms of winning doesn’t impress me,” Thurman told MillCity Boxing. “There are some talented fighters who have faster hands, better footwork, stronger punches and better in-ring IQ.”

“I’m not convinced about Haney. The welterweight division may not be the biggest one right now and I don’t see him dominating. I think there’s plenty [fighters]. A lightweight fighter could just step up and potentially re-establish himself as a welterweight and work his way up through the division.”

Thurman also compared Haney’s move to 147 pounds to the jumps previously made by Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, but said he doesn’t see Haney reaching that level at welterweight.

“Floyd was a lightweight that broke 147. Pacquiao was a lightweight that broke 147. Haney is trying to be a lightweight that breaks 147. I just don’t see him succeeding,” Thurman said.

Haney later responded on social media with a low post directed at Thurman.

Keith looks like a smoker pic.twitter.com/YCCpMQygc8

— Devin Haney (@Realdevinhaney) May 26, 2026

Haney has looked stronger since moving up to welterweight, but the question remains how he would fare against pressure fighters and boxers at this weight after a tough fight with Ryan Garcia in 2024. Thurman’s comments are another sign that not everyone is convinced Haney will become a dominant fighter at 147.

Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fight landscape. His reports focus on the most essential fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.

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Last updated: 26/05/2026 at 15:52

Dmitry Bivol will defend two of his three delicate heavyweight world titles on Saturday night, but that doesn’t stop his coach from looking to the future.

Bivol has proven to be the man to beat in the delicate heavyweight division, defeating Canelo Alvarez, Gilberto Ramirez and most recently Artur Beterbiev, establishing the Russian ruler as a star who fights non-stop.

However, David Benavidez’s dominance has put Bivol’s supremacy into question as many fight fans believe that the “Mexican Monster” has the aggressive style necessary to defeat the well-rounded champion – especially after witnessing him win in a third weight class.

Following his own victory over “Zurdo” Ramirez at cruiserweight, Benavidez announced that he intends to step down to resume his reign as WBC delicate heavyweight champion, with the first fight on his list being an undisputed bout with Bivol.

Talking to MISCELLANEOUSThe Russian’s coach Gennady Mashyanov confirmed that they want the same, assuming that they will leave Michael Eifert unscathed this weekend.

“My personal target right now is Benavidez – who, let’s say, talks a lot. We’ll see what he’s really capable of. I’d like him to stop talking. For that to happen, someone has to get in the ring with him and shut him up for good.”

The Bivol-Eifert event will take place on Saturday, May 30 at the UMMC Arena in Yekaterinburg, Russia, and can be viewed live on DAZN, supported by a subcard depicting a group of Russian fighters. Bivol will defend the IBF and WBA belts, but the WBO will not be on the line after the sanctioning body refused to fight due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. However, Bivol will not be stripped and will be able to defend the belt in his next fight.

Wladimir Klitschko’s long pursuit of heavyweight champion George Foreman’s oldest record is coming to an end as he turns 50, with the ongoing war in Ukraine finally unsettling him.

For years, World Boxing News documented Klitschko’s desire to return to boxing solely to break Foreman’s historic mark.

The former unified heavyweight ruler has repeatedly said that he has no interest in exhibitions, farewell fights or simply returning to the ring for nostalgia.

“It’s a record-breaking comeback,” Klitschko said as speculation about a comeback gained momentum following his 2017 retirement.

Now, after almost a decade away from the sport and after his 50th birthday, a dream that once seemed realistic during the turmoil of the heavyweight division has quietly faded away.

Bernd Boente

No one understands Klitschko’s way of thinking better than Bernd Boente.

Boente spent 18 years as manager and CEO of Klitschko Management Group during one of the most dominant eras in heavyweight boxing history before leaving the position in 2018.

Today, Boente works as an analyst for DAZN DACH, covering major heavyweight fights including Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois and Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven.

His experience goes back even further, after decades of working in the ring with Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, Julio Cesar Chavez and many others during his television work in Germany from 1987-2000.

When asked by WBN if Klitschko was unhappy about potentially losing his chance to break Foreman’s record, Boente made it clear that boxing was no longer a priority.

“We talk on the phone quite often, but we never talk about boxing,” Boente told World Boxing News exclusively.

“Vitali, Vladimir and their compatriots are currently engaged in completely different matters in the country.

“They are fighting the most essential fight of their lives, namely the fight for the freedom and independence of their homeland, Ukraine!”

George Foreman’s record

The comments add a sense of finality to the comeback story that WBN has been following since 2018.

Klitschko has talked about Foreman’s record many times over the years and has openly admitted that it remains one of the few motivations that could pull him back into professional boxing.

“I still have it. Can I fight? Yes,” Klitschko said earlier.

“There will be no comeback to break your jaw. It’s a comeback to break the record.”

The pandemic initially put a damper on those ambitions after DAZN discussed a massive comeback deal that included multiple fights and a world title shot.

Then the Russian-Ukrainian war changed everything.

Instead of preparing to return to heavyweight at the age of 45 or 46, Klitschko stood by his brother Vitali during the darkest period in Ukraine’s contemporary history.

Even amid speculation about Turka Alalshich’s desire to facilitate Klitschko achieve the record, the Ukrainian legend has repeatedly emphasized where his priorities actually lie.

“At the moment, I am not interested in my return to boxing, but in the return of Russians to their country outside Ukraine,” Klitschko declared at the end of 2024.

The return of the heavyweight division

Exceeding the age of 50 effectively eliminates any chances for Klitschko to return to the ring.

It’s been almost a decade since he retired, and even then, many considered him over the top.

Given the current state of the heavyweight division, Daniel Dubois or Murat Gassiev would be the obvious choice for any comeback attempt.

However, Klitschko’s decision was largely ignored by the ongoing situation in Ukraine.

The opportunities may still exist from a boxing standpoint. Foreman’s desire to chase achievement may even still be lurking in the background.

But the reality described by Boente paints a completely different picture.

For Wladimir Klitschko, the fight that matters right now has nothing to do with the heavyweight titles.

About the Author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Since 2010, he has been interviewing world champions, breaking down international titles exclusively and reporting from the ring. His work is distributed on major platforms including Apple News. Read the full biography.