Devin Haney took to Instagram tonight, ostensibly unperturbed by the backlash he has faced from fans after his disputed victory over Vasyl Lomachenko last Saturday. In his post, Haney dubbed himself the “Undisputed Villain,” suggesting a strategy of courting popularity by playing the antagonist, a tactic once adopted by Floyd Mayweather Jr. However, Haney’s predicament is that he may not possess the skill to outperform top-level fighters. With Shakur Stevenson intending to leverage his WBC mandatory status to orchestrate a bout with Haney, it seems Haney’s reign as the “undisputed villain” may be nearing its end.
Stevenson’s fight is one that many predict Haney will not fare well in. Even if Haney could again benefit from the same panel of judges that officiated his contentious win over Lomachenko, many believe he would still find himself on the losing end due to Shakur’s domination. Haney’s performance against the smaller Lomachenko has raised concerns about how he would fare against formidable opponents such as Stevenson, Gervonta Davis, Teofimo Lopez, Josh Taylor, Regis Prograis, or Subriel Matias. Shakur Stevenson has even voiced his belief that Lomachenko was unfairly judged, expressing his eagerness to take on Haney next.
Given the precarious outlook of Haney’s career, he may be advised to seek a lucrative bout with Gervonta, following the example set by Ryan Garcia. Should he move up to the 140lb category, Rolando “Rolly” Romero could be the only champion he stands a chance against. Jamel Herring, former WBO super featherweight champion, in conversation with Fight Hub TV, agreed with the judges’ decision in favor of Haney against Vasyl Lomachenko, stating, “I’m cool with 115-113. It could have been that.”
Herring expressed enthusiasm at the prospect of a Haney versus Gervonta Davis match-up, but indicated that it would be Haney’s call whether to stay at lightweight. He noted that the weight had been a concern for the last few bouts. Herring pointed out, “I know with Devin; it has to make sense. It has to be some real money on the table. But as a fight fan, I’d love to see that fight. Catchweight or whatever. It’s still a good fight.” According to Herring, boxing needs these kind of match-ups to continue attracting and maintaining fan interest.
Image Credit: Instagram