Devin Haney Wins WBC Title vs. Prograis, Dominates Judges' Scorecards in Boxing Fight | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Carter Sullivan Devin Haney introduced himself to the junior welterweight division with a unanimous decision win over Regis Prograis to capture the WBC championship belt on Saturday night from the Chase Center in San Francisco.
Kevin Iole @KevinIScores: 120-107 on all cards for Devin Haney <a href="">#HaneyPrograis</a>
Oscar De La Hoya @OscarDeLaHoyaI'm going to push for <a href="">@RyanGarcia</a> vs <a href="">@Realdevinhaney</a> let's go!!!!
RYAN GARCIA @RyanGarciaHaney is Good no doubt but I know him all to well and I will beat him. Good stuff tonight congrats but this year we are going to run it!!! 😤
RYAN GARCIA @RyanGarciaThis was Devin at his finest but his finest is something that can put people to sleep that is watching. I know what he's missing. He can have it one day but he don't have it right now. Make your assumptions i can't wait to get it active with him!!!! <a href="">#HaneyPrograis</a>
The contrasting styles were apparent early in the fight. Prograis is known for his power and he let his hands go a few times in the early rounds, but Haney mostly controlled the distance and led the dance.
Douglass Fischer @dougiefischerHaney is controlling the distance through 2 rounds, punching well on the move, but Prograis is giving him something to think about. <a href="">#HaneyPrograis</a>
The first major shot of the fight was fired in the third round. Haney found a home for a sharp straight right that put Rougaru on the canvas. Prograis beat the count, but Haney showcased some new power with the move up to 140 pounds.
It wasn't just power that carried the day for Haney, though. The speed disparity was wide and Haney was able to consistently fire off two to three punches and move out of the way before Prograis could counter.
Kevin Iole @KevinIPrograis looks old and slow and Haney looks like he's giving his best performance. Really glaring difference at this point
Haney nearly scored another knockdown in the sixth round. Another right hand wobbled the 34-year-old as Haney didn't even allow his opponent to have moments in the fight.
Al Bernstein @AlBernsteinSuperb performance by Haney so far. The most telling part of this is that there has not been one clinch yet, so Prograis has never been on the inside.
Haney looked so good at the heavier weight that it led some to wonder out loud how long it will be before we see him take the next step up to 147 pounds.
Francisco A. Salazar @FSalazarBoxingI don't know if this is being said, or has been said, Haney looks like a welterweight in the ring tonight. I wonder how long he stays at 140 pounds before moving up to welterweight .. <a href="">#boxing</a> <a href="">#HaneyPrograis</a>
The final round were just a competition to see if Prograis could survive. Haney already made his statement with a comprehensive performance but wasn't able to get the finish. That certainly didn't detract from the fact that he made it known he's going to be a problem for any junior welterweight.
Josh Taylor @JoshTaylorBoxerWell done Devin Haney. Complete shut out. What a Performace 👏🏼 🎩 off
Terence Crawford @terencecrawfordHe deserved that win
Shakur Stevenson @ShakurStevensonGotta give Bill goofy ass his credit he a smart business man
The win starts Haney's run as a 140-pounder after a run at lightweight with all four belts around his waist as the division's undisputed champion.
Now, at 25 years old, he has his eyes set on another weight class.
Haney made his final defense of the fourth lightweight belts in a unanimous decision victory over Vasiliy Lomachenko. A potential superfight against Gervonta Davis would have been a huge tentpole event, but Haney intimated that Davis wasn't interested before giving up his belts.
"I did everything at 135 that I could," Haney told reporters. "The biggest fight for me was making that Gervonta Davis fight, and his side showed no interest in making the fight. I've outgrown the division, so now I make my quest to 140 to become a two-division champion."
The new weight class opens up a whole new set of possibilities for the California native.
For one, a bout with Teofimo Lopez Jr. could be a blockbuster next year. The two have had some verbal sparring and now that Haney has followed Lopez into the 140-pound division the matchup is closer to reality.
Lopez briefly retired after his last bout—a unanimous decision win over Josh Taylor—but announced that he was unretiring and interested in a fight against Haney on X, formerly known as Twitter, in July.
Lopez is still the WBO champion in the division and seems to be angling for a fight with IBF champion Subriel Matias in early 2024.
If Haney could swing a fight with the winner of that hypothetical he's only going to see his stock go up and continue to move up pound-for-pound lists.