Devin Haney, telling the World Boxing Council he is “physically, mentally and emotionally” unfit to immediately defend his 140-pound belt, has been moved to “champion in recess” and former world champion Alberto Puello will instead fight Spain’s Sandor Martin for the junior-welterweight title.
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman told BoxingScene Monday that he has immediately ordered Puello-Martin, meaning the bout should occur within the next four months.
“Devin Haney’s team petitioned the WBC to be replaced as champion as he takes all the time he needs to recover … he’s not ready to fight,” Sulaiman said of the 25-year-old Haney (31-0), whose April 20 majority decision loss to a three-pounds overweight Ryan Garcia was changed to a no-contest Thursday.
The New York State Athletic Commission, in addition to indefinitely suspending Garcia through at least April 20, 2025, dealt him a maximum $10,000 fine payable to the state and ordered him to return his $1.2 million in guaranteed purse money (non-pay-per-view earnings) to Golden Boy Promotions, after Garcia submitted three positive pre-fight tests for the banned performance-enhancing drug Ostarine before knocking Haney down three times in the bout.
“I absolutely support Devin Haney and agree with his reasons why,” he needs a layoff,” Sulaiman said.
“What happened to (Haney) in New York is one of the greatest injustices I’ve seen in boxing. Meeting a fighter who did not make weight, who played mind games and had performance-enhancing drugs in his system, Haney still fought like a warrior.
“He got knocked down three times, and while many others would’ve stayed on the canvas, he got up every time.
“I respect Devin Haney after that fight more than ever and will fully support any decision he makes.”
Haney said last week he is mulling a civil lawsuit against Garcia (24-1) for damages incurred in their bout.
While Haney is believed to have gained eight figures in earnings from the Garcia fight, the WBC purse bid for him to fight Martin only drew one bidder, Top Rank, and the bid to pay both fighters would’ve landed Haney just over $1.6 million.
Haney attorney Pat English told BoxingScene Monday that he’s “not going to discuss” a potential lawsuit against Garcia “until it’s filed.”
That leaves WBC mandatory 140-pound challenger Martin (42-3, 15 KOs) to meet new interim champion Puello (23-0, 10 KOs) for Haney’s vacated belt.
Martin sent four-division champion Mikey Garcia to retirement via his October 2021, majority decision victory. Martin then knocked down current WBO 140-pound champion Teofimo Lopez and gave him all he could handle in a December 2022 bout that Lopez won by split decision.
Puello claimed the interim belt June 15 by edging then-unbeaten Gary Antuanne Russell by split decision (114-113, 115-112, 109-118) on the Gervonta Davis-Frank Martin card.
Puello, ironically, previously lost his WBA 140-pound title due to a positive result for the PED Clomiphene. He has won twice since.
Because of how narrow the bout with Russell (17-1, 17 KOs) was, the WBC has ruled Russell is first in lime to fight the Martin-Puello winner.
Additionally, it is believed Haney, as a champion in recess, will have a leg up if he opts to instead move up to welterweight, where Texas’ Mario Barrios was recently elevated to full champion as previously undisputed champion Terence Crawford moves up to a junior-middleweight title fight against WBA champion Israil Madrimov Aug. 3 in Los Angeles.
“Every case is treated according to the given situation … It all depends (on Haney). I don’t want to jump on something that’s a hypothetical and say something that is inappropriate,” Sulaiman said.
For now, eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao, 45, is pressing to land a title shot at Barrios by November.
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