Devin Haney has taken to X to provide fans with an update on his next bout as he returns after his last fight in April of 2024.
The American fighter lost to rival Ryan Garcia in his last outing, but Haney maintained his WBC super lightweight title as his opponent came in overweight by 3.2 pounds.
However, the bout was declared a no-contest in the aftermath of the fight, allowing Haney to keep his undefeated record. The decision was overturned due to Ryan Garcia testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs following the bout.
Haney has not competed since then, however, the 26-year-old claims he is set to return in early 2025.
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Devin Haney claims he will return in March
Posting from his X account, Devin Haney has said “March… I’m back”.
The lightweight champion’s opponent is currently unconfirmed, however, Haney will not be rematching rival Garcia in his return.
Following his controversial win over Haney, Ryan Garcia was suspended for 12 months from professional boxing from the 20th of April, 2024. This means that should Haney return to fight in March, an alternative opponent will face ‘The Dream’.
Fans were surprised that Haney would be returning before Garcia was cleared to fight. Among the responses to the tweet include: “Wait actually does this mean the comeback fight WON’T be Ryan?”.
Meanwhile, other fans were excited that the champion was returning to action. “YES LET’S GO BRO”, “Been waiting”, and “2025 will be a big year in boxing”, were also among the responses.
Plenty of options for Haney in return bout
Although Ryan Garcia is not an option for Devin Haney, there are still plenty of options for the super lightweight champion.
Should Haney choose to defend his title, worthy contenders in the division include the likes of Jack Catterall, Teofimo Lopez, and Jose Ramirez. However, it is not a guarantee that he will face a top super lightweight contender.
The 31-0 boxer’s 2025 return will be his longest layoff since the sporting world was halted in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With this in mind, a top contender may not be a priority for Haney.
Rumors also began to spread that the champion had broken his jaw in the Garcia bout, however, Haney responded to these claims by saying “I have no broken anything btw like I said I’m OK”.