Devin Haney’s move to welterweight could barely have gone better, and it has already drawn the attention of fellow champions.
Having previously ruled at lightweight and super lightweight, Devin stepped up to face unbeaten WBO titleholder Brian Norman Jr. and emerged with a convincing victory, despite pre-fight expectations of a close contest. The win immediately placed him among the central figures of the welterweight division and reopened talk of another undisputed run.
With that ambition in mind, Haney has several options on the table. A heated rematch with Ryan Garcia looms, with Garcia expected to challenge for the WBC title next month, while WBA champion Rolando Romero also remains on the radar. However, it is the IBF belt that has now been directly dangled in front of him.
That invitation comes from Lewis Crocker, who has publicly named Haney as his top target. Speaking to Ring Magazine, the Belfast fighter made the case for champions facing champions, stressing Haney’s pound-for-pound status and star power as reasons the fight makes sense for both competitors and the sport.
Crocker’s confidence is underlined by recent changes in his corner. Despite being guided to world honours by Billy Nelson, he has appointed Huzaifah Iqbal as his new lead trainer. Iqbal described Haney as the kind of technical challenge they welcome and insists his fighter is willing to take on anyone at the top level.
For now, the unification talk remains hypothetical. The IBF has declined Crocker’s request for a voluntary defence or a rematch with Conah Walker, instead ordering him to defend his title against Australia’s former world champion Liam Paro. Whether a clash with Haney follows will depend on how both champions navigate their next mandatory steps.
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