Devin Haney told the World Boxing Council he was “physically, mentally and emotionally” unfit to immediately defend his 140-pound belt, and was downgraded to “retired champion,” with former world champion Alberto Puello fighting Spain's Sandor Martin for the junior welterweight title instead.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman told BoxingScene on Monday that he has ordered the Puello vs. Martin fight immediately, meaning the bout should take place within the next four months.
“Devin Haney's team has petitioned the WBC to replace him as champion because he is taking too long to recover and he is not ready to fight,” Sulaiman said of the 25-year-old Haney (31-0). Haney lost a majority decision to Ryan Garcia, three pounds overweight, on April 20, but the bout was rescheduled to a no contest on Thursday.
The New York State Athletic Commission suspended Garcia indefinitely until at least April 20, 2025, fined him up to $10,000 to the state and ordered him to pay back $1.2 million in guaranteed prize money (non-pay-per-view revenue) to Golden Boy Promotions after Garcia tested positive for the banned substance ostarine three times prior to the fight and knocked Haney down three times.
“I fully support Devin Haney and agree with the reasons why he needs to be fired,” Sulaiman said.
“What happened to (Haney) in New York is one of the greatest injustices I've seen in boxing. Despite facing fighters who didn't cut weight, engaged in mind games and had performance-enhancing drugs in their system, Haney fought like a warrior.
“He was knocked down three times and while any other fighter would have stayed on the canvas, he got up every time.
“After that game, I have more respect for Devin Haney than ever before and will fully support whatever decision he makes.”
Haney said last week he was considering filing a civil lawsuit for damages he suffered in the fight with Garcia (24-1).
Haney is estimated to have made eight figures for the Garcia fight, but only one WBC bid was made by Top Rank for the Martin fight, leaving Haney with just over $1.6 million to pay both fighters.
Haney's lawyer, Pat English, told BoxingScene on Monday that he would not discuss a possible lawsuit against Garcia “until a lawsuit is filed.”
This will see WBC mandatory 140-pound challenger Martin (42-3, 15 KOs) face new interim champion Puelo (23-0, 10 KOs) for the belt now vacated by Haney.
Martin forced four-division world champion Mikey Garcia into retirement with a majority decision victory in October 2021. Martin then knocked out current WBO 140-pound champion Teofimo Lopez in a December 2022 bout, with Lopez winning by split decision.
Puello won the interim title on June 15, defeating then-unbeaten Gary “Antuan” Russell by split decision (114-113, 115-112, 109-118) in the Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin bout.
Ironically, Puello previously lost his WBA 140-pound title after testing positive for the PED clomiphene. He has since won it twice.
Due to the closeness of his bout with Russell (17-1, 17 KOs), the WBC deemed him the top contender to face the winner of Martin vs. Puello.
Additionally, resting champion Haney is thought to have an advantage if he chooses to move up to welterweight, where Texas' Mario Barrios was recently promoted to full champion and where previously unbeaten champion Terence Crawford will move up to face WBA champion Israil Madrimov in a junior middleweight title fight on August 3 in Los Angeles.
“Every case is treated on a case-by-case basis… it's all up to (Mr. Haney). I don't want to jump into hypothetical situations and make inappropriate statements,” Sulaiman said.
For now, eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, 45, is aiming to win a title fight against Barrios by November.
