Gary Russell Jr. says it’s an indication of weak point for Devin Haney to make use of Jose Ramirez as his comeback opponent in Might in his first struggle since his loss to Ryan Garcia.
The previous WBC and WBO mild welterweight champion Ramirez is the warmup struggle to get Haney prepared for his rematch with Ryan in October. The previous two-division world champion Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) will make some huge cash in his rematch with Kingry and a struggle in February 2026 in opposition to doubtlessly Teofimo Lopez.
Stepping Stone
It’s nonetheless a dangerous struggle for Devin as a result of Ramirez is best than anybody he’s crushed besides Vasily Lomachenko. Russell Jr. thinks the selection of Ramirez (29-2, 18 KOs) as Haney’s tune-up opponent alerts that his administration is attempting to “protect” his profession.
It’s a wise transfer by Staff Haney as a result of he took loads of punishment in his 12-round majority choice loss to Garcia on April twentieth final yr on the Barclays Middle in Brooklyn. Devin was dropped 3 times and suffered a jaw harm.
It will be foolhardy for Haney to leap proper in with the sharks instantly at 147 after 13 months out of the ring coming off. The struggle in opposition to Ramirez might be at welterweight and Devin’s debut on this weight class, regardless that he rehydrates within the 160s.
The 2012 U.S. Olympian Ramirez was a reasonably good puncher at 140, and he could also be much more highly effective at 147. Russell focuses on Ramirez’s latest shut 10-round unanimous choice loss to Arnold Barboza Jr. on November sixteenth.
Barboza Jr outboxed Ramirez, however he did job of constructing it shut in the long run together with his relentless stress. The scores had been 97-93, 96-94 and 96-94.
“With what occurred with Ryan, this isn’t the man to come back again and struggle,” mentioned Gary Russell Jr. to MillCity Boxing about Devin Haney coming again in opposition to former WBC and WBO mild welterweight champion Jose Ramirez in Might. “Now, you’re supposed, ‘I’ll struggle whoever now. Anyone can get it.’
“Now it seems to be like, ‘I misplaced. All proper, I’m going to try to struggle that one over there.’ They’re attempting to protect his profession. That’s what individuals do. I perceive it. I perceive you attempting to protect your profession, however from the within searching, Devin Haney and them, you’re speculated to do what’s greatest for you.”
Russell Jr. doesn’t give any examples of who he feels Haney ought to struggle at 147 for his comeback. There aren’t loads of choices for out there contenders within the division. Jose Ramirez would beat many of the contenders within the 147-lb division.
The one respectable fighters within the division are Eimantas Stanionis, Jaron Ennis, Brian Norman Jr., and Mario Barrios. Ramirez would give all of them issues. Ennis would in all probability be an excessive amount of for him, however he’d have a superb shot at beating the opposite three champions.
“If that’s the route that y’all really feel that y’all must take, then do this. There’s a flipside of that. Individuals are like, ‘Rattling, he simply misplaced. He misplaced, and he ran.’ I need him to come back again, however he received to come back again exhausting now. Now you come again with that [Jose Ramirez]. That’s not coming again exhausting. You bought to select your poison and do what’s greatest for you,” mentioned Russell Jr. about Haney.
“Typically, ‘f*** what these individuals assume. It is dependent upon what you’re taking a look at. If you happen to plan on being the massive canine, then nah,” mentioned Russell Jr. when requested if he was in favor of Haney combating Ramirez. “However should you’re planning on holding your head load. ‘I’m going to go forward and get what I can get.”
Haney is mainly ignoring what individuals consider him as a result of if he was centered on them, he’d face somebody actually harmful and certain lose.
Boxing Information 24 » Haney’s Comeback In opposition to Ramirez Attracts Criticism from Russell Jr.
Final Up to date on 02/13/2025
