Devin Haney will put his unbeaten record and WBC lightweight title on the line on May 29 when he takes on former three-weight champion Jorge Linares in Las Vegas.
Our Predictions
Jorge Linares to beat Devin Haney – 6/1
Jorge Linares to beat Devin Haney on points –
Will The Fight Go The Distance? Yes –
Devin Haney is one special fighter. He is unbeaten after 25 fights with 15 wins by knockout and the other 10 by decision. He was crowned WBC interim lightweight champion in 2019 when he forced Zaur Abdullaev to retire in the fourth round.
He was then promoted to full champion after the previous champion Vasyl Lomachenko vacated the belt after being named WBC Franchise Champion. He has since defended that title twice with points decision wins over Alfredo Santiago and Yuriokis Gamboa.
Haney is only 22 years of age, and he will go onto have a long and successful career, but most fighters need to suffer at least one defeat in their career to achieve their overall greatness. We think Haney will taste defeat for he first time in his career on May 29, but it will define him as a man and a fighter for the remainder of his career.
Why will Haney lose? Linares is on a different level to most fighters – in my opinion. His hand speed is crazy, he has been around long enough to know what is needed to tire out his opponents. Haney will throw a lot of punches, but you can’t win if they don’t land. Linares will bob and weave his way through this fight and will then pick off Haney with his quick-fire jabs.
It will be a thrilling fight, but we am backing the 35-year-old Venezuelan to turn back the clock and put in a stellar performance that once saw him beat the likes of Anthony Crolla (twice), Luke Campbell, Kevin Mitchell and Mercito Gesta.
Eighteen of Linares’ victories have come by way of decision, and we believe he will pick up number 19. We know a lot of experts are expecting Haney to dispose of Linares quite easily. We am not one of them, Linares is a big bout fighter, and he will rise to this occasion like he has done many times in the past.