Devin Haney: “I’ll Beat Russell With My Skill Set, Not Size”

Haney wants bigger fights after Russell

Devin Haney (left), Gary Russell Jr.
Devin Haney (left), Gary Russell Jr.

Haney wants bigger fights after Russell


After re-working and sending over a new contract to WBC world featherweight champion “Mr.” Gary Russell Jr (31-1, 18 KO’s), WBC world lightweight champion Devin “The Dream” Haney (24-0, 15 KO’s) remains skeptical that he will sign. In the event that he does supply his signature, Haney is adamant that his size will not be the reason that he lays a beating on Russell.

“And I am not the type of fighter to say, ‘oh, he is 5’5, 126 pounds I am going to beat him because I am bigger because I done beat bigger guys my whole career’. Since I was a kid, I’ve always beat up older guys. So I am not saying that’s the reason I am going to beat him. But my skill set and my talent and everything that I bring to the table is why I’m going to beat him, not because of size.”

RUSSELL NOT THE BIGGEST FIGHT

Assuming that Russell does accept the potential prizefight, Haney would be happy to take on the longstanding champion with the sterling reputation. Although, The Dream pulled no punches with speaking with Fight Hype regarding the notion that he still would not be jumping for joy to lock horns with the slick southpaw.

“No, I am not happy! Because at the end of the day I want to make the biggest fights happen and Gary Russell is a big fight but he is not the biggest. There are bigger fights to be made at 135. Is Gary Russell a good fighter? Absolutely! But after I beat Gary Russell, hopefully the top guys in the 135 pound division will fight me.”

Regardless of who he faces next, the young promoter and champion made it clear he has no intentions on spending nearly as much idle time as Russell has done.

“I don’t have time to just wait, that’s what he does! He go take a year off and he take one fight a year and he wait, he waited his whole career. Me, I want the big fights. I want to make the big fights happen and I want to move on. If you’re 126 pounds and that’s what you’re going to do, you going to stay there or you can go to 130 or whatever you’re going to do, then let us move on! But all that cap, doing stuff for attention, we don’t have time for that.”

By: Bakari Simpson

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About Bakari S.2874 Articles
Bakari is a Senior Writer for 3kingsboxing.com. Visit cheetahhead.com to view more of his literary work.