Devin Haney has hinted that a return to boxing could be on the cards in a number of social media posts.
Devin Haney hasn’t fought since facing Ryan Garcia in April where he was beaten on the night only to have his unbeaten record reinstated after Garcia tested positive, twice, for performance-enhancing drugs.
The New York State Athletic Commission ruled the fight as a no-contest and Haney remains 31-0 in his professional career.
Devin Haney looking to make return to boxing
After the fight, Haney spoke about the need to take a break from boxing.
There had been talks of a potential fight against Sandor Martin but nothing amounted and the San Francisco-born 25-year-old even spoke of extending his time away from the sport.
But on August 14, 2024, it appeared that Haney had called time on his break and seemingly made himself available again.
Haney posted a series of messages on X, saying: “The game ain’t been the same… bout time I come back.”
He continued by claiming he had given everyone “three months” before he received a message from Turki Alalshikh.
After Alalshikh called for him to return to make his return in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Haney joked that there would be no need for a comeback as he never actually left.
Who could Haney face next?
Now that Haney is back in the mix, the next question asks who he could face.
The 25-year-old will likely have two options – remain at super lightweight or move up to welterweight.
Any potential of Haney fight vs Garcia round two would have to wait until 2025 at the earliest due to his 12-month ban, despite Haney saying that his long-time rival would be the first opponent Haney would face when he returned.
Rumors suggesting he would move up in weight have come after he seemed interested in San Antonio’s Mario Barrios following his upgrade to WBC welterweight champion after Terence Crawford chose to vacate the belt.
Moving up in weight seems realistic too given that he put on 20 pounds alone to make weight for a 140-pound title fight with Regis Prograis.
His recent social media interaction with Alalshikh also suggests that all roads lead to Riyadh when he returns to the ring.