Turki Al-Shiekh posted a photo of himself standing with Devin Haney and his father, Bill Haney, at today’s meeting. Haney is meeting with Turki to discuss the possibility of him fighting on one of his seasonal cards in Riyadh.
Devin (31-0, 15 KOs) says he has already received an offer from BLK Prime to fight in March, but wants to see what Turki has in store for him. It’s unclear what kind of money Haney expects to receive for what will likely be a tuneup fight to help restore his confidence after his loss to Ryan Garcia.
“Level playing field”
During an interview with reporters today in London, Haney spoke of wanting to “fight the best” and said he just wanted a “level playing field.” He claims he will “clean up the sport”. Much of the focus of Devin’s interview was on him trying to cover up his loss to Ryan, blaming it on him for “cheating”.
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) January 10, 2025
Well, if Turki offers Haney a low punching opponent for his next Riyadh Season card, the Ryan Garcia rematch will go up in smoke and be as worthless as the Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua ‘Battle of The Losers’ fight. Ryan Garcia did a number on Haney, timing him last April and beating him in 12 rounds.
Everything will be fine if Turki offers Devin a a can of tomatoes without any power and with only a few balls following him in his head. That’s the kind of guy Haney can beat, but anyone else would put him in danger of deflating again.
“Just because I was cheated in a fight, it doesn’t mean I’m going to change my attitude. I still feel the same way. I still feel like I’m the best fighter in the world,” said Devin Haney to the media on Friday in London, trying to get pumped up by barking rather than artificial brawling. “I think I can beat all these guys on a level playing field.
“I have no news about the next opponent yet. We watched some guys, but his excellency [Turki Al-Shiekh] he invited me to a meeting with him. That’s why I’m here with him. We’ll see. Hopefully we can get something.
“It is a possibility. BLK Prime has an opportunity for me in March. They were offering me something, but now his excellency called a meeting for me to fight. So we’ll see if we can iron something out while I’m here,” Haney said.
Looking for an easy fight?
If Turki wants Haney to fight live on one of his cards in Riyadh, it will sink the rematch with Garcia into the mud. Haney will lose and his career will go up in smoke. Haney is not capable of beating the top fighters at 135, 140 or 147.
Put him up against the top fighters in any of those weight classes, and he’s going to lose. I mean, real top fighters, not George Kambosos or Regis Prograis. I’m talking about quality fighters like Gervonta Davis, Jaron Ennis, Richardson Hitchins, Alberto Puello and Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela.
Devin is still trying to use Ryan’s positive test for trace Ostarine as the reason for his loss last April, but fans don’t believe it. They saw Haney being whipped and they don’t accept his Ostarine excuse.
They saw him get hit with a left hook all night, and he was saved by the referee in the seventh minute with his timely disqualification of Garcia for a stoppage strike. Deducting points had no prior warning to Ryan.
