Devin Haney reportedly has been reinstated as lightweight titleholder.
The WBC designated the unbeaten 21-year-old “champion in recess” in December when he couldn’t defend his belt against mandatory challenger Javier Fortuna, who was scheduled to fight Luke Campbell for the vacant title.
Haney appealed and the WBC reinstated him, WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed to BoxingScene.com on Tuesday. Obviously, the break in the action because of the coronavirus pandemic worked in Haney’s favor.
Negotiations with Fortuna broke off when Haney had shoulder surgery, which he said would keep him out of the ring for six months.
As “champion in recess,” Haney would’ve retained the right to fight for his belt when he was physically able to do so.
Fortuna and Campbell were scheduled to fight for the title on April 17 in Oxon Hill, Maryland but all combat sports events have been banned since COVID-19 took hold.
“I feel like they should reinstate me,” Haney told BoxingScene.com before filing his appeal. “I was stripped because they felt I wouldn’t be active to fight my mandatory. But the two [top contenders] never fought.
“So what sense does that make? If I’m ready to fight the mandatories … let’s make this happen.”
Haney (24-0, 15 KOs) won the interim WBC 135-pound title when he stopped Zaur Abdullaev in four rounds last September and was upgraded to full titleholder when Vasiliy Lomachenko was designated “franchise champion.”
Haney successfully defended by shutting out Alfredo Santiago in November.