Devin Haney is embracing a new role as he prepares for his May 2 showdown with Jose Ramirez at Times Square in New York City. The 24-year-old, who was booed by the Los Angeles crowd at Monday’s press conference, insists he’s now playing the “villain.” According to Haney, it’s all part of the show – and a strategy to generate buzz for his next fight.
Tensions flared during the press event when Haney poked fun at Ryan Garcia’s failed drug test from their 2024 bout, prompting an outburst from Garcia. But it wasn’t just words exchanged with his former rival that fueled the crowd’s ire. Haney’s father and trainer, Bill Haney, also stirred the pot by calling out the host, Todd Grisham, for not piling on enough praise for Devin. Some observers found it comical, while others felt Bill came off overly demanding in his bid to spotlight his son.
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Haney’s plan is simple: He wants fans to pay to watch him lose – a page borrowed right out of the Floyd Mayweather playbook. “I always wanted to be the villain,” Haney told media. After all, love him or hate him, people really tune in to see if the “bad guy” will finally get toppled.
Of course, playing the villain only works if Haney keeps winning. He’s recently taken flak for launching a lawsuit against Ryan Garcia, plus he’s coming off a controversial no-contest that overshadowed his April 2024 defeat to Garcia in the ring. If he slips up against Ramirez – a tough competitor hungry for recognition – Haney’s new persona might not mean much at all. In boxing, trash talk is quickly forgotten if you can’t back it up with a ‘W.’
Get to know more about the "villain".
Image Credit: Matchroom Boxing