DEVIN HANEY
Haney dominates an ageing Gamboa but he struggles to make the statement many expected, writes Matt Christie
Our verdict on his trouncing of Gamboa
DEVIN HANEY, an emerging fighter of immense promise, scored a 12-round whitewash over an accomplished but faded former champion in 38-year-old Yuriorkis Gamboa atop Matchroom Boxing’s show inside Hollywood’s Seminole Hard Rock and Casino in Florida.
It was a typical coming of age contest, one where the young dominated the old to win unanimously on the scorecards (120-107 twice and 118-109) but one that attracted criticism nonetheless.
The reasons?
One: Haney won at a canter but never really looked like stopping a fighter 17 years his senior.
Two: Haney has a lot to say for himself and when a fighter has a lot to say for themselves, particularly in the social media age where those words are heard by millions of ears, one false move and you’re surrounded.
Three: Haney was prematurely elevated to the status of ‘world champion’ by a sanctioning body, in this case the WBC, hellbent on creating chaos in as many divisions as they can.
Four: Haney’s performance – while mature, controlled and dominant – came within three weeks of two fighters he’s been calling out turned in better showings against better opposition: Teofimo Lopez defeated Vasiliy Lomachenko in an upset victory over an existing, established and genuine world champion, and Gervonta Davis, delivered a KO of the ages while flattening Leo Santa Cruz.
In short, Haney had a lot of pressure on his young shoulders long before the opening bell. He was widely expected to do ‘a number’ on a 38-year-old who had done even less to merit a shot at the WBC lightweight belt than Haney had to
actually hold it.
However, if taken as a standalone fight then Haney – still only 21 and out of the ring for a year after undergoing shoulder surgery – performed admirably enough. He will unquestionably learn plenty from bouts like this. And in truth, the time to really judge Haney is when he’s fighting at the same level where Lopez and Davis currently sit.
Gamboa started keenly but Haney boxed within himself. Even so, the younger man appeared in control during the opening three rounds before he upped the pace in the fourth. The Las Vegas resident scored with his right hand upstairs before a body blow appeared to slow his rival down.
The veteran had flashes of success with his right hand but the combination punching of Haney, who has impressive variety for a young fighter, trumped anything Gamboa could muster.
The Cuban, who won Olympic gold way back in 2004 and glaringly past his best, would hold when Haney got too busy. It made for uncomfortable viewing and referee Telis Assimenios warned Gamboa several times before eventually taking a point away in the 11th.
Haney’s jab was snappy and on target. His hooks to body and head also caught the eye. But for long periods he was ineffective. His inability to break down – and break free from – a fighter too keen to spoil should pose questions but it’s perhaps unfair to expect Haney to come up with all the answers in the same bout.
It’s true that Lopez and Davis performed better against vastly superior opposition. But it’s important to remember that Lopez and Davis were presented with opponents given every chance of winning. In contrast, once Gamboa quickly realised he couldn’t do what he used to be able to do, he was in this just to survive. It’s a long way back, much too far in fact, for Gamboa after this.
Haney remains a work in progress, irrespective of what any hype or sanctioning body titles may tell you. The judge and jury aren’t required just yet.
Heavyweight Filip Hrgovic is another fighter to watch. He feasted on a woefully out of shape Rydell Booker, dropping the 39-year-old in the second before stopping him after 43 seconds of the fifth on the undercard.
Team Sauerland, who guide the Croatian, were quick to point out that Hrgovic did to Booker in five rounds what James Toney failed to do in 12. It should also be pointed out that James Toney won a 12-rounder against Booker sixteen long years ago. Nonetheless, Hrgovic – now 12-0 (10) – remains a heavyweight prospect worthy of our attention.
What to make of southpaw Zhilei Zhang, the Chinese giant being groomed for a lucrative fight with Anthony Joshua in China, is harder to clarify.
Zhang lost to Joshua at the 2012 Olympics, won a silver medal in 2008 and claimed bronze in two World championships (2007 and 2009). As a professional, the 37-year-old is yet to prove he’s anywhere near elite level, though.
But he has a glossy record, comes from a cash-rich country and has just enough history with Joshua for the rest of us to understand why Eddie Hearn signed him.
He had no problems thrashing 38-year-old Devin Vargas (who, like Gamboa and Booker, is years and years past his best) in four rounds.
For further context on the stalwart from Ohio, he lost a step-up fight to Kevin Johnson way back in 2009 and is far worse now than he was then.
A left hand, chucked straight through the middle of the guard, seemed to legitimately drop Vargas in the opening round. The end eventually came 50 seconds into the fourth as Vargas went down from a powerful left hand. Vargas indicated he’d hurt his leg while taking referee Frank Gentile’s full count.
THE VERDICT Haney wins easily, fails to impress but at only 21 has all the time in the world.