DEVIN HANEY EYEING IBF TITLE SHOT

Boxing Talk

By G. Leon

Greg Leon: Congratulations on another fantastic performance in another Showtime main event. Can you give us some thoughts on the fight?

Devin Haney: Thank you very much. I feel like I put on a very good performance, I feel like I showed that I’m very versatile. I can bang and I can also box. You know a lot of people were questioning how strong I was on the inside and what kind of heat I had and I feel like I showed them in this last fight.

GL: It seemed like you were choosing to stay in there and trade at close quarters. It looked like you were out to prove that you can do more than stick and move. Is that the case?

Devin Haney: “Definitely, most definitely. I just wanted to show that I can do both and I’m a complete fighter. My fight with Mason Menard I basically boxed the whole fight, so this time I wanted to do something different and show everyone that I can do it all.”

GL: You did everything you wanted to except for stopping him. Are you disappointed you didn’t get him out of there?

DH: “I am a little disappointed I didn’t get the stoppage, but at the end of the day I can’t be mad because I got the win. I’m blessed to be 20-0 at 19 years old, so what more can I say? I’m not going to stop everybody, I’m not going to knock everybody out at the end of the day I wanted to get that W and that’s what I did.”

GL: Menard and Burgos were both two experienced veteran fighters, where do you go from here?

DH: “Right now I’m talking to my team to see what’s next for me. Of course I want to keep stepping it up and I want to fight better and better guys each time out. I feel like it’s not that much more stepping up before I’m fighting for a world title. Where do I go before a world title? There’s not much space left for me to go, it’s either gotta be a title eliminator or another guy like Burgos.”

GL: Will you be able to squeeze in another fight before the end of the year?

DH: “No because the commission gave me two months suspension because of the cut I got. It’s really nothing, only two stitches, but it’s going to make it difficult to fight again this year, so it’s probably going to be early in 2019.”

GL: Who do you want to fight the most brother?

DH: “I’m not really into name calling or none of that, I just want to fight the champions. Right now in my division I don’t really know who’s fighting who, or what’s going on to tell you the truth, but I’m ready to fight any champion, for any vacant belt or against anybody who’s going to bring me closer to fighting for a world title.”

GL: You guys are definitely making moves to climb the IBF rankings.

DH: “Yes and after this fight we should be somewhere in the top ten. I know the number two spot is open and nobody knows what Mikey Garcia is doing yet, so we’ll see what happens. If that belt opens up that’s definitely something I want to fight for.”

GL: I don’t think these guys are going to be in a rush to fight you so you’re probably going to have to get your shot the hard way.

DH: “You’re right, but if that’s what I’ve got to do that’s fine with me. I got no problem fighting anybody.”

GL: What are your goals for 2019?

DH: “I want to become world champion in 2019, that’s something that’s very important to me. I’m only getting better and I should have world title before the end of next year.”

GL: Is making a 135 a problem for you?

DH: “Well you know I’m getting bigger and my body is maturing so pretty soon it’s going to start being a problem. It was toughest making weight for this one than the last fight, and I don’t know how much longer I’m going to stay at lightweight, but I definitely want to win a world title at 135 before I move up.”

GL: Closing thoughts for the fans?

DH: “Thank you for the interview, I want to thank everybody for the love and support they’ve been giving me. I’m going to keep on giving you guys what you want and I thank everybody for tuning in the other night.”