NEW YORK--Fresh off his latest win, Devin Haney was literally ready to fight tomorrow.
The 20-year old Las Vegas-based boxer claimed an interim lightweight title following a one-sided beatdown of Russia’s Zaur Abdullaev in their DAZN headliner Friday evening at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater in New York City.
The bout took place just hours after a bizarre scene unfolded which left unbeaten prospect Ryan Garcia without an opponent for another DAZN show scheduled for Saturday in Carson, Calif.
The Victorville, Calif. lightweight was due to face Avery Sparrow, who was arrested prior to Friday’s weigh-in from an existing outstanding warrant stemming from charges earlier this year. Given the circumstance as well as the call for Haney to face increased opposition while awaiting his full title shot at Vasiliy Lomachenko, the rising young star offered a solution.
“Eddie, you’re heading to Los Angeles to announce that press conference (on Saturday), right,” Haney (23-0, 15KOs) rhetorically asked promoter Eddie Hearn—who travels from NYC to LA to announce the Nov. 9 rematch between YouTube stars Logan Paul and KSI—during their post-fight press conference. “Can I get on that plane with you? Put me on that plane with you and I'll fight Ryan Garcia (Saturday) night.”
Of course, the bout won’t happen although Haney’s presence at Saturday’s press session will serve well as he is due to appear on the undercard of the Nov. 9 event, which will also stream live on DAZN. An opponent has yet to be named for what will mark his first defense of the interim title he just claimed.
It won’t be Garcia on that night either, although such a fight is not ruled out for the future—for real.
“Ryan Garcia is someone I would love to face down the road,” insists Haney. “Of course, as long as he keeps winning his fights.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox