DEVIN HANEY is a happier and healthier fighter after ditching dangerous weight cuts to fight safely up in weight.
Haney held undisputed world titles at the 135lb lightweight division – somehow shrinking down to 9st 9lb to do so.
And going up to 140lb to win the WBC super-lightweight belt at 10st was no less gruelling for the shredded American star.
But now is working his way up the divisions and returns on Friday night in a 144lb catchweight clash against Jose Ramirez.
Grimacing at his old weight cuts, he told SunSport: “I was talking to my nutritionist, my team, and just wondering like, ‘How was I even making that weight? How was I surviving, fighting under those conditions?’
“But, you know, Allah’s the perfect planner, everything happens for a reason.
“It put me in this position that I’m in now, so now I appreciate it so much more and feel so much better, mentally, physically, everything.”;
Haney is finally able to train on a full stomach, not sacrificing vital calories to squeeze himself down in weight.
And no longer starving, a healthy fighter seems a happy fighter.
Haney, back after 12 months out, said with a chuckle: “Everybody on my team is happy.
“Everybody’s seeing how much better I look, how much I’m glowing, how everything is just so much better like this.
“And I was much more disciplined coming into this camp as well with the year-long layoff, I was able to focus more and coming to this camp, prepared to have a good pre-camp.
“So, it all played a role and on May 2nd, my performance will show.”;
Haney, 26, has not returned since his controversial fight with Ryan Garcia, also 26, in April 2024.
He was dropped three times before losing a decision – only for the result to be overturned
Haney took a break from boxing – – while also relocating his training camp.
The multimillionaire has traded the sweltering Las Vegas heat for Big Bear’s gruelling altitude in California – devoid of any unwelcome distractions.
Haney said: “All I was doing was eat, sleep and praying, and training, that was it.
“That was the only thing that I was to do. I was watching a little TV but not like that. I was really just resting when I wasn’t training.”;
How was I even making that weight? How was I surviving, fighting under those conditions?
Devin Haney
– a banned substance known to boost muscle growth – and accepted a one-year ban.
It followed after tests taken on the day of and 24 hours before the fight – which has changed to a no-contest.
But Garcia did return clean VADA tests in the build-up to his bout with Haney and put the positive ostarine result down to contaminated supplements.
A massive rematch between the former amateur rivals is planned for this winter and already looming large.
But first, Haney faces Ramirez, 32, and Garcia fights Rolando Romero, 29, in a
And while Haney technically had his unbeaten record restored – the beatdown against Garcia lives long in the memory for fans.
Questions over Haney’s confidence have been asked – and they will be answered in the ring.
He said: “That’s for the world to see.
“The world is supposed to tune in and see on May 2nd and they’re gonna see that I’m a far better version from what I was before and I’d like to show that on May 2nd.”;
