Is Haney really a weight bully?

[messi807]

I've seen majority of accusations thrown out by casuals recently, (mainly Loma fans) about Devin Haney being a weight bully and was thinking it about it logically.

How is Haney a weight bully when for the past 3 years 90% of contenders in the division has been virtually the same size in weight if not bigger (Richard Commey, Ryan Garcia, Luke Campbell, Jorge Linares, Tank, Teofimo Lopez, Frank Martin, Nakhatani, Pedraza, William Zepeda, Yoshino, Rolly Romero, Jamaine Ortiz, Keyshawn Davis?

By this logic Sweet Pea & Roberto Duran were weight bullies too?

[messi807]

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Yet Haney made weight just fine against Kambosos, it was actually Kambosos that missed weight.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

If he makes the weight what’s the issue?

Haney has never missed weight to my knowledge.

[Malvado]

I've seen majority of accusations thrown out by casuals recently, (mainly Loma fans) about Devin Haney being a weight bully and was thinking it about it logically.

How is Haney a weight bully when for the past 3 years 90% of contenders in the division has been virtually the same size in weight if not bigger (Richard Commey, Ryan Garcia, Luke Campbell, Jorge Linares, Tank, Teofimo Lopez, Frank Martin, Nakhatani, Pedraza, William Zepeda, Yoshino, Rolly Romero, Jamaine Ortiz, Keyshawn Davis?

By this logic Sweet Pea & Roberto Duran were weight bullies too?

Well I am not rooting against it since if he can make weight, but both Pernell Whitaker and Roberto Duran mostly had light frames during their lightweight career and then bulked up after they moved up.



Also they are likely pointing out that Devin Haney is the physically biggest lightweight at the current time and having had a bad weight cut in his last bout isn't a good look. By the way Ryan rehydrated up to 154 pounds against Fortuna and Devin rehydrated up to 159 pounds in the rematch with Kambosos if I recall correctly. Also, Teofimo rehydrated up to 147 pounds against Lomachenko. As for the rest I am not sure.

[Thickback]

I wouldn't exactly call him a weight bully, only because he lacks punching power. But if you saw his face at his last weigh in, he clearly cuts a lot of weight., as most of the LW division does. But his body won't allow him to stay at 135 much longer.

[messi807]

Well I am not rooting against it since if he can make weight, but both Pernell Whitaker and Roberto Duran mostly had light frames during their lightweight career and then bulked up after they moved up.



Also they are likely pointing out that Devin Haney is the physically biggest lightweight at the current time and having had a bad weight cut in his last bout isn't a good look. By the way Ryan rehydrated up to 154 pounds against Fortuna and Devin rehydrated up to 159 pounds in the rematch with Kambosos if I recall correctly. Also, Teofimo rehydrated up to 147 pounds against Lomachenko. As for the rest I am not sure.

Definitely isn't anywhere near physically the biggest. Commey, Ryan, Keyshawn to name a few are 'physically' bigger, but it means nothing. Teo was bigger than Haney was at 135, hence why he couldn't remain at the weight, heck Teo said in 2020 he'll be at 147 in the near future. Haney wasn't 159 pounds against Kambosos I'll challenge you for a source, **** find me a source where/when Haney rehydrates to 155+?
4 weeks before the Linares fight he got on the scales and he was 144lbs, he stays in great shape. Can't criticise a guy because he 'looks physically bigger' - might as well argue with his parents and genetics. Makes no sense, shouldn't receive an ounce of criticism.

[MONGOOSE66]

the term, “Weight bully” is for people who need an excuse.

[messi807]

I wouldn't exactly call him a weight bully, only because he lacks punching power. But if you saw his face at his last weigh in, he clearly cuts a lot of weight., as most of the LW division does. But his body won't allow him to stay at 135 much longer.

Agreed. In general a weight bully is a fighter that is notably bigger than everyone in the division.. not a guy that is a similar size to almost everyone in that weight class.
Hence why every lightweight goes up to 140 and beyond.

[Cypocryphy]

the term, “Weight bully” is for people who need an excuse.

I definitely disagree with that. There was a reason why we used to have same-day weigh-ins. It's due to increased weight creating (1) greater punch power and (2) greater punch resistance. It's just the way physics work, and surprisingly, a little increase in weight goes a long way. There's a reason why Garcia, Haney and some others shrink themselves to fight at a lower weight than they should be fighting at, and it's in large part because of the inherent advantage you gain. You will usually have the greater reach, height and weight over the opponent. This is how you learn your craft and have as little risk as possible.

There's a science to shrinking yourself now. People have it down so that it's a science. Haney can safely make himself look like an extra in the Walking Dead and fight the next day. People couldn't do this in the past except by starvation, saunas and sweatsuits. Back when Duran would blow up, he'd have to lose that and fight on the same day. He likely lost to Leonard because of this, as well as the Puerto Rican guy, Wilfredo Benitez.

We all inherently know that when you get in a fight, you'd prefer to not have to fight someone who's bigger than yourself. It's instinctual because we know intuitively that we're at a disadvantage.

Weighing 10 pounds more than your opponent is not something anyone should dismiss. Ask a wrestler about fighting guys outside his weight class. They'll give you a good explanation as to the difference and how they're at a disadvantage. Anyone in combat sports knows.

[Cypocryphy]

Agreed. In general a weight bully is a fighter that is notably bigger than everyone in the division.. not a guy that is a similar size to almost everyone in that weight class.
Hence why every lightweight goes up to 140 and beyond.

Devin and Garcia were easily the biggest lightweights in that division. You could put Nakatani in there too. I don't know what he rehydrates to, but I do know that he'd struggle to make weight. Now that Garcia has left (and I think Garcia was the biggest at one point), Devin is now the biggest lightweight in the division.

You have to understand that it's not so much about how tall your are or how much reach you have, it's about how much you weigh because weight increases both your punching power and your punch resistance. The only time your punch resistance goes down is if you make weight the wrong weigh, which is entirely possible in Haney's case. This weight cut is going to be harder than before, that I know for sure. But regardless, what Haney is doing is quintessential "weight bullying." Notice that the key word is "weight" and not "height" bullying or "reach" bullying.