Devin Haney secured a victory, though it felt more like a setback than a triumph due to the nature of the performance.
Returning to the ring for the first time since his 2024 bout with Ryan Garcia, which was later changed to a no-contest, Haney faced former unified light welterweight champion Jose Ramirez on Friday night. This contest was the second fight on the main card of the “Fatal Fury: City of Wolves” event, headlined by Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero. The fight was largely anticipated as a potential stepping stone for Haney towards a rematch with Garcia. However, the unanimous decision victory Haney achieved came in a fight widely panned for its lack of action, likely dampening enthusiasm for any immediate rematch.
From the opening bell, both fighters displayed extreme caution. Haney seemed hesitant to engage, a sentiment mirrored by Ramirez. This passive approach defined the entire 12 rounds, leading to an exceptionally low punch output from both competitors – reportedly nearing historic lows for a full-length fight. Haney, for instance, was credited with only 224 attempted punches. Despite the lack of engagement, the judges scored the fight heavily in Haney`s favor (119-109, 119-109, 118-110), finding that he had done marginally more than Ramirez in each round. The uninspiring performance did little to win over new fans or build anticipation for a Garcia rematch; notably, the broadcast team opted not to conduct a post-fight interview with Haney.
Wesley Dunham 
Marcus Blakely