Former super featherweight champion Joseph ‘JoJo’ Diaz recently expressed his concerns for Devin Haney following his loss to Ryan Garcia. Diaz believes that Haney is currently going through a period of “dark times” after his defeat to Garcia, and he attributes Garcia’s victory to his familiarity with Haney’s weaknesses from their previous amateur bouts. Diaz suggests that Garcia deliberately came in overweight by 3 lbs to capitalize on his size and strength advantage over Haney.
Diaz emphasizes the importance for Haney to carefully select his next opponent in order to regain his credibility and redeem himself in the eyes of the fans. However, this might be a difficult task as Haney’s WBC mandatory challenger, Sandor Martin, is next in line for a title shot. Although Martin may not be a well-known name in the boxing world, Haney will have to face him if he wants to retain his WBC title. This matchup poses a challenge for Haney, as a win against Martin may not be enough to erase the memory of his loss to Garcia.
Despite his loss, Diaz commends Haney for showing “a lot of championship heart” in the ring against Garcia. He urges Haney not to let the criticisms and backlash from fans affect his mental state, and to instead focus on the lessons learned from the defeat. Diaz also hints at the need for Haney to make certain changes in his approach to future fights in order to avoid more losses.
Diaz suggests that Haney should consider avoiding sluggers, carefully selecting opponents, returning to the lightweight division, or even moving up to the welterweight division to find success in his career. He believes that Haney should take some time off to reflect on his options and make strategic decisions for his next fight. The path to redemption for Haney may involve defending his title against a tough opponent and securing a convincing victory to silence his critics.
Diaz also touches upon Ryan Garcia’s mindset, indicating that Garcia’s focus may not be on winning world titles but rather on maximizing his popularity and leverage in the sport. Despite Garcia’s indifference towards weight limits, Diaz asserts that Haney should have been prepared for Garcia’s tactics and adjusted his game plan accordingly. The key takeaway from Haney’s loss to Garcia is the importance of adapting to the ever-evolving landscape of professional boxing and making strategic decisions for long-term success.
Devin Haney’s journey towards redemption will require him to make critical adjustments in his fighting style, opponent selection, and weight class decisions. By learning from his defeat to Ryan Garcia and making the necessary changes, Haney has the opportunity to rebuild his reputation and reclaim his status as a top contender in the world of boxing. The road ahead may be challenging, but with the right mindset and determination, Haney can overcome his setbacks and emerge stronger than ever before.