What is next for Devin Haney?
Haney is now a two-division world champion after winning a one-sided unanimious decision over Regis Prograis at the Chase Center in San Francisco, on Saturday, December 9th.
Haney now holds the junior welterweight WBC title after earning undisputed status at the lightweight division.
Yet, after the fight, Haney said intentends to move to the welterweight division.
Here are five possible options for Haney's next fights:
Mario Barrios — 147-pounds
Barrios holds a form of the WBC welterweight title after defeating Yordenis Ugas. The current WBC welterweight champion, Terence Crawford, seems to only want ‘big fights’, meaning that belt could come free, should he vacate in pursuit of lucrative bouts.
Barrios is a credible former world champion, who Haney has sparred in the past and trained with. They both have ties to the Bay Area, and this could be a fight to make in that region.
Keith Thurman — 147-pounds
Thurman could have been the great welterweight after Floyd Mayweather as he beat the guys of his era — Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter — but was hampered from injuries and inactivity.
Though Thurman is in the twilight of his career, he is a great talker. He'd likely be bigger than Haney, and provide a stern test at welterweight.
Ryan Garcia — 140-pounds
This fight will happen … but the only question seems to be when it happens.
Garcia is so famous it seems like every talented fighter around his weight class in his era will fight him. As some have astutely pointed out his career might mirror that of Amir Khan. A great fighter, but an even better business man. Garcia has power and speed — but lacks some of the tangibles to be truly great.
It would be an event and an attraction but may not provide Haney with the legacy-building names like the ones below.
Teofimo Lopez — 140-pounds
Another fight that should happen is one that involves Teofimo Lopez.
With Haney’s dominant win, questions have arisen — like, who is better: Haney or Teo?
In a perfect world, they’d simply fight. Lopez is a fighter who has had problems outside of the ring, but inside the ring he has looked like a modern Roberto Duran.
Gervonta Davis — 135-pounds, or catchweight
This is another fantastic fight for Haney as Davis is the biggest name in the lower weights, fighting between lightweight and junior welterweight.
Davis draws big crowds, and hits extremely hard. Davis and Haney fighting would be a big fight that would make boxing relevant.
