After a week of reflection, Bill Haney, the father and trainer of Devin Haney, expressed his primary regret for not enforcing the contractual weight limit against Ryan Garcia, who came in three pounds over the limit before the fight. Bill described this oversight as “calculated” and “cheating” in an extensive interview. Despite the ability to pull out of the fight due to the weight breach, Devin chose to proceed, and Garcia compensated by paying $1.5 million for being overweight, as per their bet.
Bill Haney, who also acts as his son’s manager, shared that they are still in discussions about possible changes to Devin’s training team. Despite the setback, Bill highlighted the teachings from their Muslim faith, emphasizing that “life is not about regrets – Allah’s the perfect planner,” which helped them view the situation as a test of Devin’s mettle. Bill expressed pride in how Devin adhered to the rules and showcased resilience by repeatedly recovering from knockdowns during the fight, affirming his status as a true fighter.
The fight, which drew over 14,000 fans to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, ended in a majority decision victory for Garcia after he delivered a series of powerful left hooks that eventually decided the match. Despite this, Bill Haney praised his son for battling against what he perceives as the broader injustices in boxing. Moving forward, Bill stated that any decisions about Devin's career remain entirely up to him.
Image Credit: Top Rank