Haney’s Comeback Against Ramirez Draws Criticism From Russell Jr.

Gary Russell Jr. says it’s an indication of weak spot for Devin Haney to make use of Jose Ramirez as his comeback opponent in Might in his first battle since his loss to Ryan Garcia.

The previous WBC and WBO mild welterweight champion Ramirez is the warmup battle 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 battle in February 2026 in opposition to doubtlessly Teofimo Lopez.

Stepping Stone

It’s nonetheless a dangerous battle for Devin as a result of Ramirez is best than anybody he’s overwhelmed besides Vasily Lomachenko. Russell Jr. thinks the selection of Ramirez (29-2, 18 KOs) as Haney’s tune-up opponent indicators that his administration is making an attempt to “protect” his profession.

It’s a sensible transfer by Workforce Haney as a result of he took a number of punishment in his 12-round majority determination loss to Garcia on April twentieth final 12 months on the Barclays Middle in Brooklyn. Devin was dropped 3 times and suffered a jaw harm.

It might be foolhardy for Haney to leap proper in with the sharks instantly at 147 after 13 months out of the ring coming off. The battle in opposition to Ramirez will likely be at welterweight and Devin’s debut on this weight class, despite the fact that he rehydrates within the 160s.

The 2012 U.S. Olympian Ramirez was a fairly good puncher at 140, and he could also be much more highly effective at 147. Russell focuses on Ramirez’s current shut 10-round unanimous determination loss to Arnold Barboza Jr. on November sixteenth.

Barboza Jr outboxed Ramirez, however he did a very good job of constructing it shut in the long run together with his relentless strain. The scores have been 97-93, 96-94 and 96-94.

“With what occurred with Ryan, this isn’t the man to come back again and battle,” 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 battle whoever now. Anyone can get it.’

“Now it appears like, ‘I misplaced. All proper, I’m going to attempt to battle that one over there.’ They’re making an attempt to protect his profession. That’s what folks do. I perceive it. I perceive you making an attempt to protect your profession, however from the within searching, Devin Haney and them, you’re presupposed to do what’s finest for you.”

Russell Jr. doesn’t give any examples of who he feels Haney ought to battle at 147 for his comeback. There aren’t a number of choices for out there contenders within the division. Jose Ramirez would beat a lot of the contenders within the 147-lb division.

The one first rate 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 have to take, then do this. There’s a flipside of that. Persons are like, ‘Rattling, he simply misplaced. He misplaced, and he ran.’ I would like him to come back again, however he obtained to come back again laborious now. Now you come again with that [Jose Ramirez]. That’s not coming again laborious. You bought to choose your poison and do what’s finest for you,” mentioned Russell Jr. about Haney.

“Generally, ‘f*** what these folks assume. It is dependent upon what you’re . If you happen to plan on being the large canine, then nah,” mentioned Russell Jr. when requested if he was in favor of Haney combating Ramirez. “However if you happen to’re planning on maintaining your head load. ‘I’m going to go forward and get what I can get.”

Haney is principally ignoring what folks consider him as a result of if he was centered on them, he’d face somebody actually harmful and sure lose.