Devin Haney apparently fired Keith Thurman after the former unified welterweight champion questioned whether Haney could dominate the 147-lb division.
Giving his assessment in an interview, Thurman said he is not convinced Haney will be able to run through the welterweight division despite recent wins over Jose Ramirez and Brian Norman Jr.
“After his no-loss, no-win against Ryan Garcia, the pedigree he’s winning against doesn’t impress me,” Thurman told MillCity Boxing. “There are some talented fighters, people who have got faster hands, better footwork, stronger punches and better ring IQ.”
“I’m not a firm believer that Haney is. The welterweight division might not be the most right now, and I don’t see him dominating. I think there are a lot of (fighters). A lightweight can just jump up and potentially re-establish themselves as a welterweight and run through the division.”
Thurman also compared Haney’s move to 147 to the jumps Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao previously, but said he doesn’t see Haney reaching that level at welterweight.
“Floyd was a lightweight who ran through 147. Pacquiao was a lightweight who ran through 147. Haney is trying to be a lightweight who is going to run through 147. I just don’t see him getting there,” said Thurman.
Haney later responded on social media with a short post directed at Thurman.
Keith looks like a smoker pic.twitter.com/YCCpMQygc8
— Devin Haney (@Realdevinhaney) May 26, 2026
Haney has looked stronger since moving up to welterweight, but questions remain about how he would handle pressure fighters and punchers at the weight after his tough fight against Ryan Garcia in 2024. Thurman’s comments are another sign that not everyone is sold on Haney becoming the dominant fighter at 147.
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Last updated on 2026/05/26 at 15:52
