BoxRec

Devin Haney slated to return Dec. 3, hopes to fight Joseph Diaz Jr.

Devin Haney is slated to return to the ring Dec. 3 in Las Vegas, the lightweight titleholder told ESPN, a fight he hopes will come against Joseph Diaz Jr.

For months, Haney has searched for a topflight 135-pound opponent. He traded barbs with Diaz on Twitter, but the former 130-pound champion pursued a fight with Ryan Garcia, a bout that was agreed to for Nov. 27.

On Friday, it was revealed that Garcia suffered a hand injury that requires surgery, freeing up Diaz for the potential fight with Haney on DAZN.

"I think that JoJo would be my best opponent on paper so far," said Haney, ESPN's No. 3 lightweight. "Main thing is making the fight happen. I think he's a good fighter, but I'm on a whole 'nother level.

"I hope he doesn't price himself out. The new way of ducking these days is pricing yourself out."

Diaz, ESPN's No. 6 lightweight, was set to earn $1.5 million for the Garcia fight, sources said, a bout Golden Boy, which promotes Diaz and Garcia, is planning to reschedule for February. Eddie Hearn, who promotes Haney, offered Diaz $1 million, sources told ESPN.

"I'm willing to fight Devin Haney this year. Everything has to make sense and be on an even playing field," Diaz, 28, told ESPN. "I want the fight. I trust in my team, Golden Boy Promotions and MTK."

Diaz (32-1-1, 15 KOs) outpointed Javier Fortuna in July in his lightweight debut. Garcia was slated to fight Fortuna on that same date but withdrew to address his mental health.

Haney (26-0, 15 KOs) is coming off the biggest win of his career, a decision victory over Jorge Linares in May. The 22-year-old Haney, along with Gervonta Davis, Teofimo Lopez and Garcia, make up a quartet of rising stars in the lightweight division, yet there have been no fights among the four yet.

"I definitely think I'm the most avoided fighter in boxing," Haney said.

If he doesn't land the fight with Diaz, Haney said he plans to stage his next bout at 140 pounds. Haney mentioned former junior welterweight champion Viktor Postol as a possible opponent.

But for now, the target remains Diaz.

"Hearing the news today, we definitely want to try and get Haney vs. Diaz made," Hearn told ESPN. "It's a fight I felt should have happened anyway, so hopefully we can get it over the line now."

With Garcia-Diaz off Nov. 27, the lightweight championship bout between Teofimo Lopez and George Kambosos will likely replace it on the DAZN schedule, sources said. Hearn landed the rights to the fight after Triller defaulted on the bid.

cant complain a guy is ducking you when he's making 150 percent the purse to fight another world rated opponent

Nakatani wouldn't be a bad fight..

We've seen Teo fight him, Loma made him look very silly..

Let's see how Devin fights him.

good fight. haney got more tools but jo jo haz lots of dog in him, and that might be the type to break dev if he's fragile. some question after linares had him troubled late and holding on massively

Not to be pessimistic but…

Good fight. Good opponent steal. Fuk rematch clauses.

contracts have not yet been signed

Finally big lips take on a truly challenging matchup? Diaz won't be a gift sent via email.

Great matchmaking. Diaz is extremely tough and rugged. Haney is definitely more on the fragile side.

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑23 Oct 2021, 20:19 Great matchmaking. Diaz is extremely tough and rugged. Haney is definitely more on the fragile side.

Not sure about fragile, we'll see. He caught a good shot vs Linares, and survived. Still young and learning. I'd pick Haney over Diaz in this one.

What a stupid tweet..

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑26 Oct 2021, 06:13 What a stupid tweet..

which

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑26 Oct 2021, 12:49

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑26 Oct 2021, 06:13 What a stupid tweet..

which

Forgot to post it

Bandog wrote: ↑24 Oct 2021, 18:29

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑23 Oct 2021, 20:19 Great matchmaking. Diaz is extremely tough and rugged. Haney is definitely more on the fragile side.

Not sure about fragile, we'll see. He caught a good shot vs Linares, and survived. Still young and learning. I'd pick Haney over Diaz in this one.

Linares can't crack an egg, man. Haney also doesn't have the added benefit of being a small LW like Lomachenko. Dude is massive and got put on queer street, hard.

My respect level for Diaz continues to rise. This man is a fighter. He’ll fight anybody. Bring on the rising stars. Love it. Jo Jo is gonna beat Haney. Unanimous decision.

bobcatbox wrote: ↑26 Oct 2021, 22:00 My respect level for Diaz continues to rise. This man is a fighter. He’ll fight anybody. Bring on the rising stars. Love it. Jo Jo is gonna beat Haney. Unanimous decision.

ya jo jo is that type of fighter, no nonsense, hard worker in the ring. not afraid to fight top opposition.

i lean haney but jo jo is a good opponent for him. haney has shown the speed and skill but looked worringly fragile vs linares - not so much getting hurt, but that 3 rounds later he still hadnt recovered. jo jo is the type of tough nut who can give him some worries if that isnt sorted out

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑26 Oct 2021, 22:02

bobcatbox wrote: ↑26 Oct 2021, 22:00 My respect level for Diaz continues to rise. This man is a fighter. He’ll fight anybody. Bring on the rising stars. Love it. Jo Jo is gonna beat Haney. Unanimous decision.

ya jo jo is that type of fighter, no nonsense, hard worker in the ring. not afraid to fight top opposition.

i lean haney but jo jo is a good opponent for him. haney has shown the speed and skill but looked worringly fragile vs linares - not so much getting hurt, but that 3 rounds later he still hadnt recovered. jo jo is the type of tough nut who can give him some worries if that isnt sorted out

Jo Jo also handled Farmer really well and did so while severely cut. Granted Farmer isn’t as fast as Haney, he is a really slick fighter. I don’t think Haney can just outbox Jo Jo. He will have to fight Diaz and things will get dicey when he does !

Diaz has a lot of fight in him, and isn't scared to lose that "0," but let's be honest here, he's fighting 2 divisions above his weight class. I think his only chance is to wear down Haney and stop him. I can't see him outboxing Haney, so he'll have to be a dog in this fight and just keep coming.

I slightly favor Haney, but if I were a betting man, I'd put money down on Diaz as the underdog.

Is anyone actually confident this fight will happen? It’s 5 weeks away now and gone very quiet

Jc89 wrote: ↑27 Oct 2021, 07:59 Is anyone actually confident this fight will happen? It’s 5 weeks away now and gone very quiet

The fight has been made. The boxers are probably in training camps.

There was a lot of talk before the fight was made, negotiations etc. Don’t need to talk anymore now.. let them fight.

It is getting close but we have seen DAZN officially announce fights within one month time frame in the past so maybe that's the case with this fight. Fighter must know it's going to happen, just waiting for the public announcement. I'm confident that the announcement will be made before Canelo's fight date, so that they get some shine off of that.

I have to Lol @ the Haney being fragile comments. I've seen many fighters buckled, and keep their feet, including Floyd and Canelo, among countless others. Haney is a gym rat, solid, skilled, and still very young.

There is a reason, beyond money imo, that Diaz wanted the easier fight against the OTHER guy that ignored his mandatory status, instead of taking his mandatory shot for the belt. The belts used to mean something, but that's another subject.

Diaz is a tough cookie, for sure. Great fight!

haney ko win for me,diaz comes to fight he will be open haney is skilled puncher he will land, diaz aint the biggest puncher but i think will have to go for the stoppage which leaves himself open