Devin Haney acknowledges that he must defeat Jose Ramirez on May 2nd to secure a rematch with Ryan Garcia in October. In the Fatal Fury Times Square roundtable last week, Devin (31-0, 15 KOs) said if he doesn’t beat Ramirez (29-2, 18 KOs), he won’t be fighting Kingry. Fans can purchase the May 2nd Fatal Fury event live on DAZN PPV for $59.99 or go the bundle route with the May 3rd Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull for $89.99 for the two events.
Haney says he’s got to “step on” Ramirez and then move on to the rematch with Ryan. He says this is Ramirez’s “last opportunity” for his career. So, he’ll be desperate for a win, knowing this is it. Devin seems to be projecting with his comment about it being Ramirez’s last chance, as he’s the one facing career oblivion.
Ugly Fight Ahead?
There’s a lot of doubt about whether Haney, 26, is mentally and physically capable of getting past the 2012 Olympian Ramirez to earn the lucrative rematch with Garcia. Haney is obviously thinking about the massive payday that he’ll be getting if he can get a second fight with Ryan.
Predictably, Devin is going to make this an ugly fight, employing a hit-and-run, hold-style approach to win a decision. It’ll be like how he fought Regis Prograis. He’ll jab and throw single shots to keep from getting hit.
“My main focus is Ramirez because if I don’t win that fight, I don’t get to the Ryan fight,” said Devin Haney to Ring Magazine. “That’s my main focus right now.”
Haney doesn’t possess the power or the chin to stand and go to war with Ramirez, because the chances are high that he’d get dropped two or three times. It would be a replay of his loss to Ryan.
“I’m blessed that the world wants to see me back in the ring. This is boxing. What fighter hasn’t taken big shots under those lights? That’s how you show that you’re a true champion. You can take a good shot and get up, and that’s what I’ve shown,” said Haney to Cigar Talk, reacting to being told that people have questions about whether he can come back from his beatdown against Ryan Garcia.
Fans want to see Haney back only because they’re interested in seeing if there’s anything left of him. There’s curiosity there about whether he’s still functioning after the way Ryan beat the living daylights out of him last April. A lot of people want to see the rematch to have Kingry put a final stamp on it, finishing Devin’s career with a knockout. People loath Haney for the weakness he showed by initiating a lawsuit after his humiliating loss.
“Step On” Strategy
“I didn’t get knocked out. People act like I got stopped. I didn’t get stopped. What I’ve been doing over the last year is training. That’s the fight that everybody wants to see, but it starts with Ramirez,” said Haney when asked if he wants the rematch with Garcia.”I’m going to go in there and step on Ramirez, and then we’re going to put our focus on Ryan.
What is Devin talking about? He doesn’t possess the power to “step on” former WBC and WBO light welterweight champion Ramirez to score a knockout. Haney hasn’t knocked anyone out in six years since his fight against Zaur Abdullaev in 2019. That was ages ago. The only thing he can do is maybe clinch Jose into submission, because he’s definitely not knocking this guy out.
“I know that Ramirez is coming with everything. This is his last opportunity, really, and he knows that, even though he may not want to admit it or he may not want to say it,” said Haney. “In reality, this is his last opportunity. So, he’s going to try to come with everything.
“He’s going to try to come better than he did against Barboza. He’s going to try to come better than he did against Rances [Barthelemy]. I’m not taking him lightly. As you see, I’m here at Big Bear. All I’m doing it eat, sleep, pray, boxing,” said Haney.
Last Updated on 04/21/2025
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