when Devin Haney Choosing to turn professional before he turned 18, he was forced to look outside the confines of the United States for his first challenge in the ring. Haney, a native of San Francisco, gained acclaim as an amateur before heading to Mexico and fighting in bars and small venues, quickly improving his record and propelling his career to the big stage.
He definitely arrived.
On Saturday, April 20th, Haney will compete for the junior welterweight title. ryan garcia In a blockbuster headline fight at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) has had a difficult road, but along the way his father and trainer invoice He was Devin's biggest advocate. Rather than pay to bring a fighter in from Mexico, the Haynes went there and honed Devin's skills and spirit in tough developmental opposition and gritty, hostile venues.
Coincidentally, Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) also turned pro in Mexico before signing with Golden Boy Promotions.
In the second episode of DAZN's pregame promo series “40 Days,” the Haynes reflected on Devin's Spartan start.
“He was 16 years old and we took a nontraditional path and went to Tijuana and turned pro,” Bill Haney said of his son. “No African-American kid who was outstanding in the amateurs went that route.”
While Devin Haney's peers were fighting on the undercard of major fights, he was investing in himself and building his name and brand under less-than-ideal circumstances.
“I was in a bar fight and the dressing room was the closest, like the janitor,” Devin said. “Everyone was booing me. They didn't know who I was, but they knew I was American.”
Over time, Bill Haney came to be seen as the answer to boxing. Earl Woods.Earl was the one who raised the young man. tiger woods He was a golfer through and through and delighted in proclaiming his son's greatness and demonstrating every angle of his potential in the process. This is also roughly the story of Bill Haney and Devin Haney so far.
“What do you want to do in this sport? How far do you want to go?” Bill said he asked his son. “He said, 'Dad, I want to go all the way.' I want to be named with the greats.”
The fighter attributes part of his throwback mindset and legacy-oriented approach to his Tijuana “roots.” At times, Devin would fight opponents who had been replaced at the last minute or faced difficult opponents with little footage available to review. Currently he is a world title holder in his two weight classes.
“It's not a coincidence that I'm here,” the fighter said.
