Promoter Eddie Hearn avoided today’s Devin Haney vs. Sandor Martin purse bid, leaving Top Rank as the lone binder to plunk down $2.42 million to get the fight.
Of that amount, Haney will get a purse of $1,524,600 for his title defense of his WBC light welterweight belt against Sandor (42-3, 15 KOs). The Spaniard Martin will receive a purse of $653,400.
If you’re Haney, you have to be worrying about your career and marketability because that low bid was a signal that his defeat against Ryan Garcia has changed things.
Haney’s Payday Takes a Hit
It’s a big comedown for Haney (31-1, 15 KOs) not even getting $2 million for this fight, which makes it difficult to see him having any chance of getting the big paydays he would hope against Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis or Teofimo Lopez.
Haney cannot lose this fight to Sandor because if he gets beaten here, he will find himself fighting on one of the obscure networks against other similarly down-and-out fighters.
Carl Moretti of Top Rank told Dan Rafael on X, “I understand why Matchroom didn’t bid because Eddie told me he didn’t like the fight. I don’t understand why Devin Haney Promotions didn’t bid since they’re quote, unquote, a promoter as well.”
With the purse Haney would have wanted, Hearn had to know that Matchroom would lose money if they bid on the Sandor fight and won.
Hearn had predicted last April that Haney would vacate his WBC title rather than fight Sandor and take a small payday, but he still hasn’t made that move.
Haney’s Uncertain Future
For Haney to still be holding onto his WBC title, he might lack confidence that he can capture a belt against one of the other champions. He’s got to think he can use the WBC title as a pawn later.
What’s interesting is that Hearn recently said that he wants Haney to fight Sandor Martin next. If this is what Hearn wanted, why didn’t he bid?
After the way Ryan batted Haney around the ring, it could be insane to put him in with anyone with halfway decent power. Hearn seems to think Sandor is safe enough for Haney to fight but not a good enough opponent for him to bid on.
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