By Ryan Burton

After fighting 9 times in 2016 and 7 times in 2017, Devin Haney (22-0) only fought twice in 2018.

The rising blue chip lightweight talent will be a lot more active in 2019.  He fought for the second time this year on Saturday night when he stopped the normally durable Antonio Moran with a highlight reel one punch knockout in the 7th round in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

The fight was Haney's first with Eddlie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing since signing a multi-fight deal earlier this month. After Oleskandr Usyk had to be canceled from the card because of injury, Haney was promoted to the main event in his DAZN debut.

After the fight Hearn stated that Haney will be back in the ring before the end of the summer.

"We will be back in America in August. Devin Haney lit it up and he can fight in any city in America," Hearn told a group of reporters after the fight.

A fight against fellow lightweight prospect Ryan Garcia has been bandied about for months on social media.  Both fighters perform on the DAZN app but Hearn doesn't think the fight will happen anytime soon.

"Not if they want to keep him undefeated," Hearn quipped. "I like Ryan Garcia. I think he is great for the sport. Ryan Garcia versus Devin Haney one day is a big fight." 

When asked where he would rank himself among this new crop of fighters Haney didn't hesitate to call himself the best.

"Of course I feel like I am number one. If you are in that category and you don't feel that way then something is wrong," he stated.

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