Tim Bradley thinks it’s a bad idea for Devin Haney to take a year or two off from the sport after his loss to Ryan Garcia last April.
Bradley sees it a bad move on Haney’s part to voluntarily sit inactive for a year or more because he’s in the prime of his career, and it’s not a good idea to lose it.
Not the Same Boat as Garcia
Haney isn’t in the same boat as Ryan Garcia (25-1, 20 KOs), who received a one-year ban by the New York State Athletic Commission on Thursday for his positive PED test last April.
After losing to Ryan, Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) may have lost his ambition and love for the sport. He might not be confident to continue and is just looking for a big payday before retirement. Haney wouldn’t be the first fighter to retire after a loss.
Loss of Ambition and Unrealistic Expectations
It’s hard to know what is affecting Haney more. The loss to Ryan or his desire to only get big paydays. It might be Haney’s unrealistic expectation of only wanting money, similar to what he got against Ryan, and that won’t happen.
There aren’t enough big stars in the sport with the following that Ryan has who want to fight Haney, especially if he’s heading to 147.
“You want to take one year or two years. I don’t think it’s a good look. I know he’s young, 25 or 26. Take your little break. Maybe take a year or or two years. Why? What for?” said Tim Bradley to Fighthype about Devin Haney talking about wanting to be out of the ring for a year or two.
“Fighters have got to understand that not all fights are created equally. If you make $5 million to fight a fight, and then you go fight a mandatory challenger. It’s not the same. You’re not going to make $6 million or $5 million. That’s not how it works.”
Haney might have thought that he was in the superstar PPV bracket after his fight against Ryan, and it’s a bitter pill for him to swallow to receive the kind of money that he was getting years ago. The reality is that even Ryan wouldn’t make huge money fighting Sandor Martin, but he wouldn’t expect it or get upset about it.
“That’s the level. $1.5 million. That’s what it is Take it or leave it. If you don’t like it, get rid of the belt, but I don’t think Devin is going to be at 140. I think 140 is out the window. I think he moves up to 147. We’ll see what he does there,” said Bradley.
Take a Break, But Don’t Waste Your Prime
“Take a year off, rest up, and enjoy your life. Take care of yourself because you did take somewhat of a beating, and then get back in there. Don’t leave your good years behind. You’re just barely getting in your prime, and you’re young enough. You got to be mentally tough and you got to have heart,” said Bradley.
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