REIGNING American World Boxing Council super lightweight champ Devin Haney has cast a moist eye at the belt of compatriot and newly-minted WBC welterweight king Mario Barrios, which could derail the ring return of Pinoy ring icon Manny Pacquiao, who is gunning for the same title.
Writer Phil Jay of worldboxingnews.net reported yesterday (Saturday in the US) that Haney has expressed interest in going up to the 147-pound division to challenge Barrios “after his purse bid to defend his 140-ound belt fell flat.”
Quoting reliable sources, Jay wrote that “Haney would have the favor with the WBC due to the champion moving up to face another (WBC) champion rule. There’s also the fact that that the WBC doesn’t rank Pacquiao to consider, as well his defeat to Yordenis Ugas last time out.”
In his last professional boxing match, Pacquiao lost his World Boxing Association super welterweight crown to the unheralded counter-punching Cuban, who beat the odds and wrested the belt with a stunning unanimous decision win on Aug. 8, 2021 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The unexpected setback left Pacquiao’s face black and blue and subsequently led to his retirement.
“Should Haney push WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman for the first opportunity at Barrios, he would likely gazump (scuttle) Pacquiao’s weeks of groundwork,” the article said.
MP Promotions chief Sean Gibbons had been doing the talks for the comeback fight of his boss, a fact confirmed by Barrios’ coach, Bob Santos, as reported by Jay last week.
Santos said that the talks of a championship match “were positive on both sides. I know Pacquiao wants to fight, and I know Barrios wants to fight. They just got to find a venue. It looks like a solid go coming here (Las Vegas) in the next couple of months.
“It will probably be the early part of fall (September or October).”
