Haney: Best Will Fight the Best in Lightweight Division Because I Will Call The Shots

Devin Haney expects to be the reason why the top lightweight champions and contenders will have to face each other in the near future.

The WBC titleholder and Las Vegas denizen will challenge WBA, WBO, and IBF champion George Kambosos on June 4 at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, Kambosos’ homeland.

The lightweight division is among the most competitive weight classes in boxing, boasting names such as Ryan Garcia, Gervonta Davis, Vasiliy Lomachenko and, until recently, Teofimo Lopez, who plans to revamp his career at the 140-pound limit. But many of the most salivating match-ups at 135, despite all the incessant brouhaha, have yet to take place.

Haney, however, believes that pattern will change once he gets past Kambosos. If Haney beats Kambosos on June 4, he will be obligated to fight Kambosos again later on in the year. Should Haney defeat the Aussie a second time, the 23-year-old will end up with all four belts in the division, giving him considerable leverage. But instead of sitting on his laurels once he is at the top of the division, Haney plans on only making the “big fights”, and suggested, furthermore, that he has no desire to forestall fights against the toughest competitors.

“[My career is] going toward all the big fights,” Haney told FightHubTV. “Everybody knows I’m not ducking or dodging nobody. If it came to Devin Haney, I would fight them all in one night. It’s going to the lightweight division.

“The best fighters fighting the best because Devin Haney has the belts, and Devin Haney is calling the shots, and Devin Haney is saying, ‘Hey I’ll fight you, I’ll fight you, I’ll fight you, which one is it?’”

Haney (27-0, 15 KOs) received widespread praise for fighting Kambosos (20-0, 10 KOs) in the latter’s backyard and agreeing to a rematch stipulation, in the event that Haney wins, that will also take place in Australia. To get the chance to face Kambosos, Haney had to sign a multi-bout deal with Top Rank, which is promoting the fight with Lou DiBella, Kambosos’ promoter.

Haney can already contain himself, thinking of the glory that awaits him on June 4.  

“I think after this fight they will give me my just due, they will give me my credit,” Haney said. “I will have the best resume in the lightweight division, I will be the top guy. That’s why I’m so excited for this fight.”