The WBC has demoted Devin Haney to ‘Champion in recess,’ upgraded interim champ Alberto Puello, ordered him to defend in opposition to necessary Sandor Martin, and made lately overwhelmed Gary Antuanne Russell the brand new necessary.
Puello vs. Martin: The First Protection
You possibly can’t say the World Boxing Council hasn’t been sluggish to maneuver Haney off the highest spot as soon as he made it identified that he wasn’t curious about fulfilling his necessary obligation or defending in opposition to his overdue title protection in opposition to Spain’s Sandor Martin (42-3, 15 KOs).
The date and placement for the Puello vs. Martin struggle are nonetheless to be decided, but it surely must occur quickly. Martin has already been ready for a chance to problem for the WBC title, and he gained’t wait any longer than he has to.
The WBC moved with lightning quickness to improve Puello (23-0, 10 KOs) to the complete mild welterweight champion standing after he captured the interim title on June fifteenth, beating Gary Antuanne Russell (18-1, 17 KOs) by a twelve-round cut up choice on the MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment in Las Vegas.
The Rise of Puello and the Fall of Haney
It’s a transfer that the WBC needed to make after Haney made it identified that he wasn’t proud of the quantity of final week’s purse bid, which High Rank gained with a profitable bid of $2.42 million.
Had Haney gone by with the protection, he would have wound up with a minuscule purse of $1.5 to $1.6 million, and that’s nowhere close to the hefty payday he bought for his current mega-fight in opposition to Ryan Garcia on April twentieth.
Puello isn’t in the identical ballpark as Haney in reputation, however he’s arguably extra proficient. He would stand a greater likelihood of holding onto the WBC title in opposition to Sandor and the opposite contenders he’ll need to cope with because the champion.
What’s Subsequent for Haney?
Haney’s punch resistance, corresponding to it’s, would go away him weak to being dethroned in opposition to contenders like Russell, Jose Ramirez, and Richardson Hitchins.
It’s unclear the place Haney plans on going from right here. Though he’s the WBC ‘Champion in recess,’ he’s not anticipated to return to the 140-lb division to try to reclaim it. If he does return to 140, it could probably be for a profitable struggle in opposition to Teofimo Lopez, Isaac Cruz, or Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis.
That’s if Haney’s profession doesn’t backside out from inactivity or his taking losses at 147 in opposition to the killers in that weight class.
