Bill Haney says he wants Devin Haney to face Jack Catterall in the UK rather than the US because he wants to do something for the British fans.
He’s not saying whether that would require Turki Alalshikh to finance the fight, because with the purse Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) would likely want, he might not get the kind of spoils he’s looking for as Catterall’s promoter Eddie not Hearn can’t offer it.
On paper, it would probably be the biggest fight Catterall could get at 140, even bigger than Teofimo Lopez, who hasn’t proven to be a draw despite holding the WBO light-welterweight title since 2023.
Haney wants to fight in the UK
Catterall’s lack of offense, low work rate and callous nature when attacked is clearly why Haney and Bill want to fight him. He didn’t look impressive in his fight against Regis Prograis last Saturday night, and they know he’s an easy mark.
“Who else is better than Catterall? We don’t say Jack here. We say Jack in the UK in his hometown where everyone believes in him is what we find interesting,” said Bill Haney. Thabok voice about him wanting his son Devin Haney to take on Jack Catterall in the UK.
You can’t blame Haney and Bill for targeting Catterall as this is a very winnable fight for them as we saw last Saturday in his fight against Regis Prograis. Catterall lacks the killer instinct, and appears timid when attacked. He was already running around the ring when he was attacked by Prograis.
“It’s an opportunity to go and fight in the UK,” said Bill. “It’s not a feat for the faint of heart with Devin being an A-side champion in America going to Australia, to the UK. I think a fight against Catterall at 140 puts us right in line for Teofimo Lopez or any of the champions at 140.”
I don’t think Haney and Bill would have anything to do with Catterall if he was a dangerous puncher. It’s more about Haney seeing weakness in Catterall, and he wants to take advantage of it.
“I think a fight against Blair Cobbs at 147 puts us in line to fight for a belt at 147 against one of the champions there,” Bill said. “Catterall is not big enough to demand that we go there. It’s about going there for the British fans. It’s definitely on our tick list.”
Bill has a generous attitude to give to British fans, but it is very hard to believe that this is a selfless move on his part. He must realize there is money to be made in the UK with the big crowds, and it will help Haney’s popularity to be seen there beating Catterall in front of a large audience.
“If Jack Catterall gets the British fans going, then there’s their guy. This is an opportunity for us to go there. It’s about teaming up with Turki Alalshikh and of course Eddie Hearn to make that fight possible. If the fight doesn’t happen with Catterall, we can go back home and fight somebody there,” said Bill Haney.
It remains to be seen if Turki will be interested in financing a fight between Haney and Catterall. If he does, he’ll probably want the fight in Saudi Arabia rather than the UK, but that won’t change anything. Haney would do it because the money would be excellent.
It will be interesting to see if the Haney vs. Catterall fight takes place as Devin’s purse demands will make it difficult to do without Turki’s involvement. Hearn would likely refuse if Haney asked for a large amount of money for a fight against Catterall.
