Devin Haney returned to winning ways on Friday night, though the manner of his victory left much to be desired, feeling almost like a setback rather than a triumph.
This marked Haney`s first fight since his 2024 encounter with Ryan Garcia, which was initially a loss but later ruled a no-contest. Facing former unified light welterweight champion Jose Ramirez, the bout was part of the “Fatal Fury: City of Wolves” card, serving as the second main fight ahead of Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero. The matchup was largely anticipated as a potential lead-in to an eventual Haney-Garcia rematch. However, after Haney secured a unanimous decision in what many observers deemed a historically poor and unengaging contest, enthusiasm for a second fight with Garcia has likely significantly diminished.
From the opening bell, Haney appeared hesitant and reluctant to initiate exchanges, a cautious approach mirrored by Ramirez. This passive pattern persisted throughout all twelve rounds, with both fighters throwing minimal punches, nearly setting a record for the fewest thrown in a 12-round fight across any weight class. Haney himself managed only 224 punches over the entire duration. Ultimately, Haney was awarded the unanimous decision with scorecards reading 119-109, 119-109, and 118-110, having seemingly done marginally more than his opponent in each round. Despite the win, the fight failed to generate excitement or win over new fans, reducing interest in a Garcia rematch to such an extent that the planned post-fight broadcast interview with Haney was reportedly cancelled.
