The Rise and Fall of Devin Haney: A Lesson in Boxing Stardom
On the night of April 20th, the boxing world witnessed a highly anticipated showdown between two rising stars, Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia. But what was supposed to be a defining moment for Haney turned into a devastating loss, leaving him with a tarnished record and a missed opportunity at next level stardom.
Kosport Magazine, the author and owner of this article, takes a closer look at the rise and fall of Devin Haney and the lessons that can be learned from his journey.
The Rise of Devin Haney
At just 23 years old, Devin Haney had already achieved what many boxers can only dream of – becoming the undisputed four-belt champion in the stacked lightweight division. But despite his impressive accolades, Haney’s star power failed to match his achievements.
His longtime rival, Ryan Garcia, may not have the same titles, but he has something that Haney lacks – star power. This was a fact that was not lost on Haney’s peers, who created the narrative that belts don’t matter.
But Haney didn’t let the criticism get to him. He continued to defend his titles and even took a big risk by facing former pound-for-pound king, Vasiliy Lomachenko. A decisive victory against Lomachenko would have surely elevated Haney to superstar status.
However, the fight ended in a controversial decision, leaving many fans and critics questioning Haney’s true abilities. But he didn’t let that stop him. He moved up to 140 and defeated the WBC world champion, Regis Prograis, in front of a sell-out crowd of 16,000.
The Fall of Devin Haney
With another title under his belt, Haney’s next fight was supposed to be his chance to increase his notoriety. But on April 20th, everything came crashing down.
In the opening round of the bout, Haney stumbled as he got caught by Garcia’s signature left hook. He would go on to hit the canvas three times and lose the fight by way of majority decision.
Despite keeping his WBC world title belt due to Garcia missing weight, Haney suffered a brutal loss and missed out on his chance to become the face of boxing.
The Lesson Learned
Devin Haney and his father/trainer, Bill Haney, had a strategic plan to enhance Haney’s profile and become the next Money Mayweather. But their plan never reached its destination.
Why? Because Haney’s style of boxing, while highly skilled, is not appealing to the fans. He doesn’t have an outgoing personality, and he lacks the power of a crowd-pleasing knockout artist.
His chances of becoming a premier pay-per-view attraction and reaching superstar status may have diminished, but there is still hope for Haney. He can bounce back, continue defending his title, and possibly move up to 147 to make an attempt at becoming a three-division world champion.
A Lesson for All
The rise and fall of Devin Haney serves as a lesson for all aspiring boxers. It takes more than just skill and titles to become a superstar in the sport. It takes charisma, personality, and the ability to capture the hearts of the fans.
But for now, Haney can take this experience and use it to continue building a hall-of-fame resume. And who knows, with hard work and determination, he may still have a chance at reaching the top.
Summary
Devin Haney’s journey in the boxing world has been a rollercoaster ride. From becoming the youngest undisputed four-belt champion to suffering a devastating loss, Haney’s story serves as a lesson for all aspiring boxers. It takes more than just skill and titles to become a superstar in the sport. But with determination and hard work, Haney can still bounce back and continue building a hall-of-fame resume.
