Promoter Oscar De La Hoya questions whether Devin Haney’s chin can be repaired in the year that he’s been out of the ring since his loss to Ryan Garcia last April. De La Hoya feels that the three times Haney, 26, was dropped and the numerous times he was hurt in his fight with Ryan may have permanently impaired his chin.
(Credit: Matchroom Boxing)
That’s a bad thing for Haney (31-0, 15 KOs), who had his loss erased by the New York State Athletic Commission due to Garcia’s positive test for the banned PED Ostarine. However, Haney is fighting the strong puncher Jose Ramirez (29-2, 18 KOs) this Friday, May 2nd, at Times Square in New York City. The Commission can’t do anything about Haney’s chin having been chipped away from that Garcia fight.
Career at Risk?
De La Hoya feels that Haney has heart, and he says that’s why he kept getting up after being dropped by Kingry last April. However, if Haney’s chin is gone from that fight, heart won’t save him against Ramirez because he’ll be hitting him hard all night to the head. He won’t take rest breaks the way Ryan did because he has a better engine.
We could be seeing the beginning of the end of Devin’s career on Friday night if he’s beaten up and stopped by Ramirez. It’ll get worse for Haney against other fighters at welterweight because many of them hit harder than Ramirez and are a lot younger. Haney’s too big to return to 140, and even if he did, he’d be food for fighters like Gary Antuanne Russell, Alberto Puello, and Richardson Hitchins.
“I think Devin has his hands full because he’s coming off a devastating knockout. So, is he going to come into the ring thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, what just happened to me in my last fight against Ryan? Wait a second. I have to face Ramirez. What am I going to do?’ It’s somewhat of a confusion in Devin’s head,” said De La Hoya during the Grand Arrivals on Monday in New York City.
Haney is going to fight the way he always does by jabbing, clinching, and moving. We’ve seen his formula many times in fights against George Kambosos Jr. and Regis Prograis. He’s going to try to frustrate Ramirez and stay out of his firing range.
“Is he going to hit me? Am I going to get knocked out? is my chin still the same? When you get knocked out as a fighter, you’re confidence just drops,” said De La Hoya. “He [Haney] showed heart. Heart is different. The chin, you can’t repair the chin. It takes away your confidence.”
He’s going to get hit hard by Ramirez because this guy has been told by his trainer, Robert Garcia, to target Haney’s chin to follow what Ryan did. Ramirez is going to try to capitalize on what Garcia did to Devin by focusing on headshots.
The Brick Wall Analogy
“Let’s just put it this way. I can build a wall with bricks and put some nice cement, water, and everything,” said De La Hoya. “But over time, it’s going to deteriorate. Over time, it’s going to fall apart. Can Devin’s chin withstand those strong punches?
“Can his chin be able to take those left hooks and right hands over time. Over time, it’s like chipping away at a rock. Eventually, you turn it into a pebble. Will we see Devin Haney with the confidence and the chin? I don’t know,” said De La Hoya.
Last Updated on 04/28/2025
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