Devin Haney says a rematch with Ryan Garcia is his priority for 2025. He believes he’ll win “on an even playing field.” He mentioned this several times in Saturday’s interviews, which sounded like a broken record.
Rematch Imperative
It is obvious that Haney sees a rematch with Garcia as a priority because he needs it for the following reasons:
- It is the highest salary
- Reestablishing His Credibility as a Fighter: This would likely be a short-term thing as Haney will struggle whenever he fights someone powerful.
- It sustains a career: Again, another short-term thing. Devin is clearly a sinking ship and can only stay afloat with Turki’s help for a limited time, as we saw with Deontay Wilder. If Haney keeps losing, Al-Shiekh won’t keep throwing him a lifeline to keep his career from sinking.
Former two-division world champion Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) is still playing the PED card, using it as an excuse for his loss to Ryan (24-1, 20 KOs) last April in Brooklyn, New York.
He probably won’t stop talking about it, and he probably will pollute preparing for a rematch between the two, using it to rebuild his credibility with fans who abandoned him.
The Haney-Garcia 2 rematch promotion will be ugly if Devin keeps bringing up Ryan’s positive Ostarine test in every interview, using it as his flawed promotional tool. Let’s hope Haney doesn’t stoop to that level, thinking fans will see it as the reason Ryan blew him out of the water last April. They won’t.
Tuning
Haney says he met with Turki Al-Shiekh in London and put together a “plan” for 2025. Devin is expected to fight soft opponent in March before facing Garcia in a rematch.
However, there is a risk if Turki picks someone too good for Haney as he could be knocked out or come off as bad if the fighter has any power. If Turki insists on putting Haney with a live body, it could be the end of his career because he will finish what Garcia started.
Devin’s fighting style involves a lot of striking, frequent clinch and movement. His fights against George Kambosos Jr. and Regis Prograis show Haney’s fighting style to a T. The way Haney fought those two is his style, and it’s not very fun to watch, but it’s effective against that level of opponent.
Rematch priority
“We don’t know. Turki, his excellency, has put together a plan for me, and you guys need to stay tuned,” Devin Haney said. Stomping Ground when asked who he will fight next in 2025. “In 2025 these fights [Ryan Garcia and Teofimo Lopez] they have to happen. I think it will happen, and like I said, I’m excited about 2025.
“Ryan Garcia,” Haney said when asked his preference for the 2025 fight. “That fight has question marks. It’s unfinished business. We are on clear ground, on equal ground; we know I’m going to win,” Haney said when asked how the rematch with Ryan would play out.
“Eddie has no bad blood [Hearn]. If he gets the chance and we can work together, it will happen. If not, I appreciate Eddie for everything he has done for me. He put me on the spot. He gave me a chance at the beginning and I can’t appreciate him enough for that,” Haney said.
Fights that Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has arranged for Haney in the past have been against these fighters:
– George Kambosos Jr.: 2022
– Joseph Diaz Jr: 2021
– Jorge Linares: 2021
