Boxing
Yuriorkis Gamboa 'has nothing to lose', says WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney
Devin Haney is not expecting an easy night's work when he returns to the ring for the first time in a year to defend his WBC lightweight title against veteran Yuriorkis Gamboa on Nov. 7 in Hollywood, Florida.
Haney's last fight came on Nov. 9 last year when he defeated Alfredo Santiago by unanimous decision in the first defense of his title, meaning the Gamboa challenge comes almost an entire year later.
Cuba's Gamboa suffered defeat last time out when he was stopped by Gervonta Davis in the 12th round of their Dec. 28 encounter in Atlanta, and it has been almost a decade since he was recognized as an elite-level competitor when he was an unbeaten world featherweight titleholder.
However, between recovering from an injury picked up in the Santiago fight and the COVID-19 pandemic, the 21-year-old Haney recognizes the threat Gamboa poses and feels victory over such an experienced boxer is extremely important this early in his spell as a champion.
“People will say this fight is easy, but it is not," Haney explained to Boxing Scene at his first hard sparring session after the fight was announced. "Gamboa is a former world champion who has nothing to lose and the shot of a lifetime.
“I have to be in the best shape of my life and put on a vintage Devin Haney performance to let my fans know that I never left. I’m on a quest to be the best fighter in boxing.”
Haney underwent successful shoulder surgery after conquering Santiago but doesn't believe he'll be rusty or gun-shy when he attempts to make successful defense number two against the 38-year-old.
“It takes a lot to come back from an injury and still have the same belief in yourself,” continued Haney. “The hurdles are mental and they’re not always apparent, they lurk beneath the surface and appear in training when you don’t expect them. I faced them and conquered them, and now am a better fighter for it. I am glad to be back in the ring after my shoulder injury, and I am glad to be doing what I love, competing at the highest level of the sport of boxing.
"Injuries are a part of the sport, but it still doesn't make working through them any less difficult. I feel better now than before my injury."
Haney vs. Gamboa will be shown live on DAZN in the U.S., and is part of an exciting finish to the year 2020 for the lightweight ranks.
Vasiliy Lomachenko and Teofimo Lopez Jr. will attempt to unify their respective titles on Oct. 17, while it has just been confirmed that Ryan Garcia will face Luke Campbell on Dec. 5 for the WBA interim title and mandatory status to the winner of Haney-Gamboa.
