Devin Haney and Jo Jo Diaz need to follow through on making the fight
While most people were probably resting or enjoying a nice quiet Sunday with friends and family, there was a fight being negotiated on social media. WBC lightweight champion Devin “The Dream” Haney (26-0, 15ko) could possibly face WBC Interim titlist Joseph “Jo Jo” Diaz (32-1-1, 15ko). The WBC champion has been looking for that one blockbuster fight. Fans are familiar with his social media back and forth with guys like unified champion Teofimo Lopez, former WBC Interim champion Ryan Garcia, and three-divisional champion Gervonta Davis.
Nonetheless, Haney could not get any of those names in the ring. Boxing fans thought a fight would happen after Garcia won the interim title. However, he decided to focus on Davis instead. Moreover, Garcia would have to vacate the title while taking some time off due to mental health issues.
This meant the WBC champion was without a mandatory opponent. Thus, the organization ordered a fight between Diaz and former WBA ‘Regular’ junior lightweight champion Javier Fortuna. Jo Jo was moving up after losing the IBF junior lightweight title on the scale against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov back in February 2021.
DIAZ WAS NOT PLAYING AROUND
Diaz would get a hard-fought victory against Fortuna, and he used some interesting language in calling out both Haney and Garcia.
“Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, let’s go. Let’s make it happen, baby! All you pussy ass fighters, get in here and fight!”
Of course Haney was going to reply. He first claimed that he did not even bother to watch Diaz’s win. Furthermore, he could not understand the purpose of Diaz calling out Garcia since Diaz already holds the ticket to the big dance. The Interim titlist, never one to back down, replied with a simple request.
“Shut yo goofy ass up and let’s fight by the end of this year pussy!”
Hany responded with one simple word.
“October?”
WILL THEY FIGHT FOR REAL OR IS THIS JUST CAP
Well, things only got even more interesting from there. Both fighters continued to go back and forth before reaching an agreement as to when they could fight.
Now some fans may feel that this is just social media grandstanding by both fighters. Haney was involved with two similar situations with WBC featherweight champion “Mr.” Gary Russel and former unified champion Vasiliy “Hi-Tech” Lomachenko.
However, this situation has a different feeling to it. One reason why this fight can happen is Diaz fights under the Golden Boy Banner, which broadcasts all their fights on DAZN. British promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that even though Haney is no longer under contract with the streaming app service, the WBC champion is still happy to fight on the platform.
Fans can also find comfort in knowing that different from previous Interim champion Garcia, Jo Jo is the one that initiated this from the start with the callout and then proceeded to continue engaging with Haney.
There is no real reason why this fight should not be on the table for the time frame both fighters publicly agreed to. Furthermore, team Haney needs to flex as much muscle as possible and sit down with Golden Boy to make this fight happen.
By: Garrisson Bland
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