Unbeaten lightweight contender Devin Haney (24-0, 15 KOs) is looking for much bigger things in 2020.
Haney had a very busy year. He dominated Xolisani Ndongeni in January, then scored a vicious knockout of Antonio Moran in May, came back in September to win the WBC's interim lightweight title with a four round stoppage of Zaur Abdullaev.
Haney became the WBC's full champion after Vasiliy Lomachenko was named "franchise" champion by the sanctioning body. He made the first defense of that title in November with a twelve round decision over Alfredo Santiago in November.
Haney apparently suffered a shoulder injury and had to undergo surgery. He will be out of action for six months.
Because of the injury, Haney was made the "champion in recess" by the WBC. And now Javier Fortuna and Luke Campbell were ordered to fight for the vacant belt.
Haney, 21-years-old, will target whoever wins when he returns.
He wants the biggest fights possible before his career is over.
“At the end, when I’m done, I want my name to be mentioned with the greats,” Haney said to the Las Vegas Review Journal. “I want people to tell their kids about Devin Haney. I want my name to live on past me.
“I can see millions of dollars. I’m nowhere near where I want to be. I’m nowhere near where I’m going to be. But I’m thankful to even get to this point.”
Bill Haney, father and trainer, says his son will recover his title at lightweight, and hopefully will win titles at junior welterweight and welterweight in the future.
“We call it trusting the process,” Haney’s father said. “Sometimes, when you don’t trust the process, you think you need something that you don’t need. … We’re concentrating on perfecting each step at a time.”