Devin Haney, the unbeaten two-division titlist, has been officially designated as the WBC 'Champion in Recess' at junior welterweight. This decision follows Haney's request to the WBC, citing his inability to proceed with a mandatory title defense against Spain’s Sandor Martin.
“WBC Super Lightweight World Champion Devin Haney requested to be placed in the status of Champion in Recess,” confirmed WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman. “The WBC Board of Governors unanimously granted Champion Haney’s request and has declared him WBC World Champion in Recess.”
This ruling was made shortly after Top Rank won the rights to the ordered Haney-Martin title fight, which was anticipated for this fall. Haney (31-0, 15 knockouts; 1 No-Contest) was slated to earn $1,524,600 for the bout but recently announced his decision to step down from his title and likely sit out the rest of the year.
The Haney-Martin fight was ordered on May 11, but negotiations failed to produce a deal within the 30-day period. This followed Haney's 12-round majority decision loss to Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs; 1 NC) on April 20 in Brooklyn, New York. Despite the defeat, Haney retained his title as Garcia weighed in 3.2 pounds over the divisional limit.
Garcia faced a separate issue after testing positive for the banned substance Ostarine in three tests, leading to a one-year suspension and the result of the fight being changed to a No-Contest by The New York State Athletic Commission.
With Haney stepping aside, Martin (42-3, 15 KOs), ranked No. 9 at 140, will still get his title shot. He is now set to face Albert Puello (23-0, 10 KOs), who was elevated to full titlist from interim status. The two camps have 30 days to negotiate terms.
The new arrangement nullifies Top Rank’s purse bid win, resetting the process. Gary Antuanne Russell (17-1, 17 KOs) has been named as the next contender to challenge the winner of the Puello-Martin fight. Russell, a 2016 U.S. Olympian, lost via split decision to Puello in their June 15 interim WBC 140-pound title fight and had been seeking an immediate rematch. The WBC instead promised him a shot at the ultimate victor.
Haney is expected to move up to welterweight in the future, though he has not committed to his next move at this time.