Tag: Franchise champion

Devin Haney reinstated as full lightweight titleholder

The WBC has reinstated Devin Haney as its lightweight champion four months after declaring him “champion in recess.”

The WBC has reinstated Devin Haney as its lightweight champion.

Haney, who became titleholder when Vasiliy Lomachenko was elevated to “franchise champion” in October, shut out Alfredo Santiago in his first title defense the following month but he injured his shoulder in the process. The injury required surgery that precluded him from defending against No. 1 challenger Javier Fortuna.

Thus, the sanctioning body declared Haney “champion in recess.” The WBC then ordered Fortuna and Luke Campbell to fight for the vacant title. However, that fight never gained traction because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, Haney petitioned the WBC to reinstate him as champion. And it finally did. Haney reportedly also was given the right to make a voluntary defense.

Fortuna and Campbell are now expected to fight for the “interim” title, with the winner in line to face Haney for the full title if Haney wins his tune-up.

Devin Haney: ‘I have learned a valuable lesson’

Devin Haney said he has ‘learned a valuable lesson’ as a result of his ‘white boy’ comment and the subsequent reaction.

Devin Haney, it appears, has grown as a person.

The unbeaten lightweight created a firestorm when he was asked during a YouTube Live session about the prospect of facing Ukrainian star Vasiliy Lomachenko and gave a response that he now regrets:

“I can tell you this: I will never lose to a white boy in my life,” said Haney, who is black. “I don’t care what nobody got to say. Listen, can’t no white boy beat me. I don’t care, on any day of the week. I fight a white boy like 10 times, I’m gonna beat him 10 times.”

A few days later he responded to criticism by saying “I’m not racist and I never will be a racist.” On Tuesday he took another, more humble step.

“Over the last couple days I’ve had time to reflect on a lot,” Haney said in a public statement. “I sincerely regret using a term that I have now learned to be derogatory to many of my fans, friends and associates.”

He went on: “I have learned a valuable lesson and I will continue to show the kind of person that I really am and will continue my quest for greatness inside and outside the ring.”

Lomachenko was scheduled to fight fellow titleholder Teofimo Lopez on May 30 but that fight was postponed indefinitely because of the coronavirus.

Haney won the WBC 135-pound title by shutting out Alfredo Santiago in October but was declared “champion in recess” when he had to have shoulder surgery and couldn’t defend against No. 1 challenger Javier Fortuna.

The WBC then ordered Fortuna and Luke Campbell to fight for the vacant title but that fight never happened because of the pandemic. Meanwhile, Haney petitioned the WBC to reinstate him as champion.

Lomachenko is the WBC’s “franchise champion.”

 

Devin Haney responds to criticism: ‘I’m not racist and I never will be a racist’

Devin Haney responded to criticism of his ‘white boy’ comment by Tweeting, ‘I’m not racist and I never will be a racist.’

Devin Haney has taken criticism over his “white boy” comments seriously.

The unbeaten was asked during a YouTube Live session about the prospect of facing Ukrainian star Vasiliy Lomachenko, the fighter many believe is the No. 1 fighter in the world pound-for-pound.

“I can tell you this: I will never lose to a white boy in my life,” Haney said. “I don’t care what nobody got to say. Listen, can’t no white boy beat me, I don’t care, on any day of the week. I fight a white boy like 10 times, I’m gonna beat him 10 times.”

Haney, who is black, was criticized on social media for injecting race into the otherwise typical trash-talk conversations.

The 21-year-old responded with two Tweets.

He wrote in the first: “I’m not racist and I never will be a racist. I’m chasing greatness.

And in the second: “I just had a very positive conversation with Mauricio Sulaiman, president of the WBC, and confirmed to him directly my commitment to be a role model and my absolute rejection of discrimination of any kind.” Sulaiman “liked” the second Tweet.

Lomachenko was scheduled to fight fellow titleholder Teofimo Lopez on May 30 but that fight was postponed indefinitely because of the coronavirus.

Haney won the WBC 135-pound title by shutting out Alfredo Santiago in October but was declared “champion in recess” when he had to have shoulder surgery and couldn’t defend against No. 1 challenger Javier Fortuna.

The WBC then ordered Fortuna and Luke Campbell to fight for the vacant title but that fight never happened because of the pandemic. Meanwhile, Haney petitioned the WBC to reinstate him as champion.

Lomachenko is is the WBC’s “franchise champion.”

Devin Haney: ‘I will never lose to a white boy in my life’

Devin Haney took trash talk with Vasiliy Lomachenko to the next level when he said ‘I’ll never lose to a white boy in my life.’

Devin Haney took trash talk with Vasiliy Lomachenko to the next level.

Haney, the unbeaten lightweight, was asked during a YouTube Live session about the prospect of facing the fighter many believe is No. 1 pound-for-pound.

“I can tell you this: I will never lose to a white boy in my life,” Haney said. “I don’t care what nobody got to say. Listen, can’t no white boy beat me, I don’t care, on any day of the week. I fight a white boy like 10 times, I’m gonna beat him 10 times.”

Haney, who is black, and Lomachenko, who is white, have also exchanged barbs on Instagram but their rivalry probably will be limited to words until some things are sorted out.

Lomachenko was scheduled to fight fellow titleholder Teofimo Lopez on May 30 but that fight was postponed indefinitely because of the coronavirus.

Haney won the WBC 135-pound title by shutting out Alfredo Santiago in October but was declared “champion in recess” when he had to have shoulder surgery and couldn’t defend against No. 1 challenger Javier Fortuna.

The WBC then ordered Fortuna and Luke Campbell to fight for the vacant title but that fight never happened because of the pandemic. Meanwhile, Haney petitioned the WBC to reinstate him as champion.

Lomachenko is is the WBC’s “franchise champion.”