The former undisputed champion claims he has outgrown the division and wants to move on
Former undisputed world lightweight champion Devin Haney announced that he is finally vacating all four of his belts in the mentioned category – WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO – before the fight with the WBC super welterweight champion Regis Prograis.
“At 135 pounds, I did everything I could,” Haney said.
“The biggest fight for me was the Gervonta Davis fight and his team had no interest in him. “I’ve outgrown that division, so now I’m aiming for 140 pounds to become a two-division champion.”
“And after this fight, I hope to become a three-division champion and move up to 147 pounds if God gives me success in this fight.”
According to the official classification, the category up to 135 pounds (61.2 kg) is lightweight, up to 140 pounds (63.5 kg) is welterweight (the WBC champion in this category is Prograis), up to 147 pounds (66.7 kg) – welterweight.
“I made history by becoming undisputed and that was a big milestone for me. But now I’m at the point in my career where I want to fight the biggest and best fights in the world. I’m a pay-per-view fighter,” Haney concluded.
Let us remind you that in September it became known that Devin’s fight with Regis Prograis will take place on December 9.
The 12-round fight will be the central event of the boxing evening in San Francisco. The boxers will fight for Prograis’ WBC belt at the Chase Center, home of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors.
Haney will fight for the first time at junior welterweight. Previously, the WBC allowed Devin to change divisions for the title fight. It was previously assumed that Haney would leave the lightweight belts, retaining the opportunity to return to the category later.
The fate of the belts he left behind is curious. Ukrainian boxers may be related to at least two of them. Thus, it is expected that the vacant IBF title will be played between George Kambosos and Vasily Lomachenko, the two main contenders according to the organization. His manager Egis Klimas hinted that Vasily’s next fight will be a title fight.
As for the vacant WBO title, Lomachenko is also listed as a contender, but it is more likely that it will be played between Denis Berinchyk and Isaac Cruz. This fight could take place on the undercard of the Prograis-Haney fight.
Source: Sportarena
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