Before he was an undisputed lightweight champion being compared to Floyd Mayweather, Devin Haney was just a 17-year-old kid from California looking to make an impact in boxing.
Not forgetting where he came from, his past has helped shape his future.
Haney, 24, defends his status as the undisputed lightweight champion against former 135-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko on May 20 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The 12-round bout, plus undercard action, will be broadcast via ESPN+ PPV.
Seating 16,800 people, the MGM Grand Garden Arena is an appropriate stage for Haney, who has fought inside some of boxing's biggest arenas. "The Dream" has competed at the Marvel Stadium in Australia; the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas; the Staples Center in Los Angeles, and Madison Square Garden.
Those venues are a far cry from when Haney started in Tijuana, Mexico.
MORE: Sign up to watch Devin Haney vs. Vasiliy Lomachenko on ESPN+
Haney’s unique path forged him to be the hard-hitting and technical force he is today.
A fact. From Turing pro In Mexico at the age of 16, becoming the youngest to ever fight at MGM, to becoming the youngest world champion in boxing today. Very influential. Oh let’s not forget the youngest promoter EVER https://t.co/ZE2Fc7w0Tf
— Devin Haney (@Realdevinhaney) December 5, 2019
Devin Haney and Mexico
Following an amateur career of over 100 wins, Haney had a chance to compete in the Olympics. He decided to forgo that opportunity to focus on his pro career. Thanks to the guidance of his father and manager, Bill Haney, Devin turned pro at age 17 in 2015.
However, there was a wrinkle in his plans. Haney was too young to get a license in the United States, so he fought in Mexico, competing in pool halls and bars. Often, the crowd did not support the American fighter.
"It was a crazy experience because the whole crowd is against you,” Haney told Bleacher Report. "Literally the whole crowd. There's not one person cheering for you besides the people you came with. If a fighter just grazes you with a punch, the crowd goes wild. You start to trick yourself like, 'Am I losing?'"
Still, Haney continued to perfect his craft. Ten of his first 15 fights were in Mexico, and friends posted the action across social media. Videos on YouTube have reached the thousands, with his third pro fight reaching 846K.
"Getting to his fans and to the people was important,” Bill Haney said to BR. “They had been following him since he was an amateur and watching his videos. So, with Mexico, we knew Devin was ready. Our opportunity to film it and bring it back on YouTube for his people was a win for us. It was low-cost, and we were able to do it cheaply."
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Keeping at it resulted in him being featured on ShoBox: The New Generation in 2018 and, eventually, the young prospect signed a contract with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing.
Haney worked his way up the card, winning the WBC heavyweight title. To become the undisputed champion, Haney defected to Top Rank and faced George Kambosos Jr. on his home turf of Australia.
Not unfamiliar with a hostile atmosphere, the Haneys welcomed it.
“We made our bones in Mexico, we graduated from small bars onto this big stage,” Bill Haney said about the Kambosos fight via Boxing Scene. “Nothing is gonna surprise us. We look forward to performing in front of the Australian fans.”
Haney outpointed Kambosos to become the undisputed champion and beat him in the rematch, again in Australia, to retain the belts.
MORE: Breaking down Devin Haney's pro boxing career
The unbeaten champ has forged a legacy that cannot be denied. He fights like a veteran and has already won more than most who spent years competing in the sport. If he beats Lomachenko, Haney could also face the likes of Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta Davis.
The transition from Mexican bar fighter to undisputed is something to marvel at. Even given his success, Haney continues to remember his humble beginnings.
“Fighting in Mexico in a bar, you never thought you’d make it this far,” Haney said to Fight Freaks Unite via Dan Rafael. “I knew I’d make it this far, but I knew I had a long road. I wasn’t the guy that came out of the amateurs, signed to a big promoter, and was fighting on big shows. I fought in Mexico for a long period of time. It’s been a long time coming for me.”
