Promoter Eddie Hearn is apparently doing all that he can to get his client-pal Devin Haney a significant fight, despite whatever Oscar De La Hoya may think.
It was reported recently that there are serious talks between Haney, the WBC 140-pound titlist, and Ryan Garcia, for a showdown later this spring.
Garcia, of Victorville, Calif., is backed by promoter Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy; Henderson, Nevada’s Haney, while nominally a free agent, has close working ties with Hearn’s Matchroom.
Hearn promoted Haney’s last bout, a dominant points win over Regis Prograis to become a champion in his 140-pound debut. Haney was previously the undisputed champion of the 135-pound division.
De La Hoya recently suggested that Hearn has nothing to do with Haney because of Haney’s free agent status but Hearn pointed out that was not accurate, saying that he has the right to match any offer that Haney receives for his next fight. The two power brokers have butted heads over the years despite the fact that they share the same broadcasting ally in DAZN, the streaming platform.
“He would say that,” Hearn said of De La Hoya in an interview with Boxing Social. “We have an option on Devin to do something like first and last. We were able to put offers forward to him and match offers and etc., etc.”
Hearn made it clear that he believes there is no better fight on the horizon for Haney than a fight with Garcia, adding that the matchup has received the blessing of DAZN.
“That’s the fight for him,” Hearn said. “I’m not looking to be disruptive. Ryan has been sending me messages and I’m not negotiating or have spoke any business with him. Just he has made it clear he wants to fight Devin. And Devin is a guy I want the best for. I think that’s the right fight for him. It’s the right fight for DAZN.”
Recently, Haney expressed some concern with negotiations.
“Oscar come with a real offer.. or quit wasting my time @RyanGarcia talk to your boy @OscarDeLaHoya,” Haney wrote in a post on X.
Garcia promptly responded, saying that De La Hoya would be squaring things away with Haney’s father and manager, Bill.
“Things are moving forward @Realdevinhaney Just hit Oscar he will talk to Bill later on today,” Garcia wrote. “We will get this done.”
Sean Nam is the author of Murder on Federal Street: Tyrone Everett, the Black Mafia, and the Last Golden Age of Philadelphia Boxing.