Regular Boxing News columnist and former European super-lightweight champion Joe Hughes looks ahead to tonight’s WBC title clash in Brooklyn and reveals plans for the next chapter in his career as a trainer.
Tonight (April 20), Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia will go head-to-head in a highly anticipated clash for the WBC super-lightweight championship. The fight promises to be an exciting spectacle for fans.
Haney, who was once the undisputed lightweight champion, claimed the WBC 140lb title in his previous fight against Regis Prograis, showcasing utter dominance. Tonight, I anticipate Haney to find himself in a comparable situation, winning decisively either through a wide points margin or possibly even a late stoppage.
Garcia’s behavior leading up to the fight has been rather peculiar, leading some to question whether it is appropriate to proceed with the match considering concerns about his mental well-being. Is he simply attempting to create a spectacle and generate controversy to boost ticket sales, or are there actual underlying issues at play?
Haney aims to secure a dominant victory to strengthen his position at the top of his new division. Teofimo Lopez currently holds the consensus number one spot following his triumph over Josh Taylor, and the winner of the Haney-Garcia fight will undoubtedly set their sights on a potential unification bout against Lopez.
Sandor Martin, who is the mandatory challenger for the WBC super-lightweight division, and whom I’ve faced in the past, seems to have other plans. He was compensated to step aside and allow the Haney-Garcia fight to occur. I anticipate that it will require a significant amount to convince him to step aside once more and allow the victor to confront Lopez. In my opinion, Martin would pose a formidable challenge to either opponent. During his bout with Lopez in December 2022, he didn’t receive the decision, but many believe he won the fight by out-boxing Lopez for extended periods and even knocking him down twice, although only one of those instances was officially scored.
I have made the decision to pursue my professional trainer’s license with the British Boxing Board of Control this week. I obtained my amateur coaching license from Malmesbury ABC in the late 2000s and have been actively involved in coaching at Paddy Johns ABC for the past five years.
It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time but not while I was still boxing myself. Now I’ve finally decided to properly retire it’s a logical next step for me and something I’m looking forward to.
