Promoter Eddie Hearn is working on putting together a deal for former two-division world champion Devin Haney to return to 140 to challenge Unbeaten Liam Paro for his newly won IBF light welterweight title on December 7th in Australia.
The IBF’s Rehydration Limit: A Major Hurdle for Haney
The fight could be brutal for Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) due to the International Boxing Federation’s 10-lb rehydration limit. Haney, who rehydrates massive amounts of weight, would need to limit his fluid intake overnight to meet the 10-lb rehydration limit the morning of the fight.
If the money Haney receives for the fight is huge, he can handle the IBF’s 10-lb rehydration limit, but his chances of winning the battle against the heavy-handed Paro (25-0, 15 KOs) would sink. Whether Haney can return to the 140-lb division safely is questionable because he looked like death warmed over making weight for his last two fights against Ryan Garcia and Regis Prograis.
The San Francisco native, Haney, was skeletal at the weigh-ins for those fights, with eyes sunken in and so severely emaciated that one worried about whether he would make it to the fights. When a fighter is as drawn as Haney, there are concerns about his health.
That could be one reason Haney was beaten up by Ryan last April. His punch resistance was not there for the fight, and he was dropped repeatedly by Ryan in a 12-round decision defeat in Brooklyn, New York.
Haney won’t be at his best. He’s young enough to do it, but it’s only a good idea for him to agree to this fight if the IBF waives its 10-lb rule to make an exception. No one would if they had to withhold fluids until the day of the contest, especially when they’re as big as Haney.
“I spoke to him [Haney], and he says if the deal’s right, I don’t think he’d have a problem going,” said Hearn to BoxingScene.
Paro: A Formidable Opponent
If the money Haney receives for the fight is huge, it makes sense for him to take it, as long as he can handle the IBF’s 10-lb rehydration limit. Haney fought twice in Australia in 2022, beating George Kambosos Jr. However, the little ‘Emperor’ is nowhere near the talent level of Liam Paro, and it’s going to be a lot tougher for Haney to defeat him.
The southpaw Paro is a big puncher with a good chin and is coming off a 12-round unanimous decision over IBF 140-lb champion Subriel Matias on June 15th in Manatí, Puerto Rico.
Paro used movement, shoving, and clinching to neutralize Matias’s power. Paro used many roughhouse tactics, but they were effective against the limited Matias, who looked like he had no clue how to deal with what he was doing.
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