By Adam Baskin: Invoice Haney is looking Shakur Stevenson, Teofimo Lopez, and Josh Taylor as “tune-ups” for his son Devin, who may very well be shifting as much as 140 for his subsequent combat.
Invoice shall be on a scouting mission tonight at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York for the Taylor vs. Teofimo combat to find out whether or not the competition winner could be a great choice for Haney’s subsequent combat.
WBC gentle welterweight champion Regis Prograis is the fighter that Haney (30-0, 15 KOs) has his eyes on, in keeping with Invoice, however he views WBO champ Taylor as a “killer as effectively.”
Invoice form of received shifty-eyed when Shakur Stevenson’s eyes had been talked about as if he was seeking to see if the coast was clear for him to speak freely about him. He regarded nervous like he was being questioned by ‘The Grand Inquisitor.’
Taylor beat Prograis 4 years in the past in London, however Regis had him found out within the second half of that combat and narrowly misplaced. Prograis has gotten lots higher since then, whereas Taylor seems to have misplaced just a few steps and is beginning to present indicators of decline.
If Haney selects Prograis (28-1, 24 KOs) as his subsequent opponent, that might say lots about his braveness and willingness to combat the most effective. Taylor is maybe the larger cash combat for Haney, but additionally a tough one on paper.
Haney’s most suitable choice could be to combat Teofimo subsequent if he comes out victorious tonight, however that’s not prone to occur. Taylor is on one other stage than Teofimo, and the probabilities are excessive that he’ll win tonight.
Taylor is a greater inside fighter than Haney and is way extra highly effective. If Haney chooses to tie Taylor up steadily, as we noticed him do towards Vasyl Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr, he may take plenty of punishment.
“The one factor unlucky about that state of affairs is that Devin can’t combat all of them on the identical time,” stated Invoice Haney to the media when requested about his response to Bob Arum saying he has the next three choices for Devin’s subsequent combat: 1. Shakur Stevenson 2. Vasyl Lomachenko rematch, and three. Teofimo Lopez vs. Josh Taylor winner.
“Till I get a suggestion on paper, we’ll sit down and speak, and I’ll pay attention and uh and see what’s on the desk. Devin beats all of them. Devin is the most effective on the earth. They’re all tune-ups.
“He’s received his eyes on Prograis. We’re fairly assured. The killer at 140 shall be on this combat tonight in Josh Taylor. I feel Regis Prograis is a hell of a fighter. He’s a killer as effectively. He had a aggressive combat with Josh [in 2019].
“They know the identical factor will occur. Bob [Arum] is sitting proper there,” stated Invoice when requested if the identical factor would occur in a rematch between Haney and Lomachenko, with Devin profitable.
“We’re having a look [at 140]. Devin may have the newest say in it. It’s my job to get out and see what the panorama appears to be like like. He’s been a 135 pounder his complete profession. We haven’t spent a complete lot of time taking a look at 140, however now it’s time to begin taking a look at them.
“I don’t pay plenty of consideration to Loma. We beat him. He wasn’t doing a complete lot of speaking. At first, he couldn’t converse English, and now you hear all the pieces from him. In 4 years, we didn’t hear nothing from him. Now, we glance to maneuver on.
“I’m saying Devin has the ultimate resolution on no matter weight that he’s [fighting at], and I’m not right here to announce it. I’m simply saying that Devin is the baddest on the earth.
“I do know he walked Lomachenko down and he modified any narrative that you simply guys may need stated. If he [Haney] had pillow palms, why was he going ahead? Why wasn’t Lomachenko backing him up? We stepped to him from one to 12,” stated Invoice.
