Devin Haney says he is “staying ready,” but he did not name an opponent, mention any negotiations, or offer a return date. Nearly 10 months after defeating Brian Norman Jr. in November 2025, the WBO welterweight champion remains on an extended victory lap.
Waiting for the golden parachute
The inactivity increasingly looks driven by fear of failure. Haney is waiting for a Fort Knox fight against Ryan Garcia or Teofimo Lopez, and facing a dangerous opponent before either payday arrives would put that position at risk.
The irony is that holding out for Ryan or Teofimo is just looking for a massive payout to justify the risk. If he is going to put his neck on the line, he only wants to do it if the check is big enough to retire on if things go south.
The problem with acting like the soldier who refuses to leave the bunker is that the war keeps moving. The division will not wait around forever. In boxing, if you try this hard to protect yourself from a loss, the public simply stops caring whether you win.
Liam Paro offers an opportunity to unify the WBO and IBF titles, but that matchup carries danger without guaranteeing Ryan Garcia money. Paro is an aggressive southpaw who would force Haney to work for three minutes of every round. A loss would remove Haney’s belt, weaken his negotiating power, and make him far less valuable to Ryan or Teofimo.
Haney did not look untouchable against Norman. He relied heavily on clinching, slowing the action, and spoiling his way through uncomfortable exchanges. It was enough to win the title, but it was not a performance that left fans counting the days until his return.
Waiting allows the 27-year-old to avoid another test. He can post training clips, preserve his championship status, and hope one of the two lucrative fights becomes available. That strategy treats the WBO belt as though it gives Haney control of the market.
It does not. Ryan and Teofimo have their own audiences and do not need Haney’s title to generate interest. The longer Haney remains inactive, the easier it becomes for both men to pursue opponents who are active, visible, and less difficult at the negotiating table.
The WBO also will not allow its welterweight division to remain frozen indefinitely. Keyshawn Davis withdrew from the previously ordered mandatory fight, but another challenger can eventually be installed. Haney may then find himself forced into precisely the type of dangerous, lower-paying defense he has spent months avoiding.
There is also a sporting cost. Instagram training clips cannot reproduce the timing, decision-making, and pressure of an actual fight. If Haney waits 12 or 14 months before facing Ryan or Teofimo, he will enter the most important bout of his career carrying serious ring rust.
Haney may be protecting himself from defeat, but inactivity cannot protect him from becoming irrelevant. “Staying ready” means little when fear of failure keeps a champion out of the ring.
