Promoter Eddie Hearn is working to put together a deal for former two-division world champion Devin Haney to return to 140 to challenge undefeated Liam Paro for his newly won IBF light welterweight title on December 7 in Australia.
The IBF’s rehydration limit: a major hurdle for Haney
The fight could be brutal for Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) due to the International Boxing Federation’s 10-lb rehydration limit. Haney, who is rehydrating massive amounts of weight, will have to restrict his fluid intake overnight to meet the 10-lb rehydration limit the morning of the fight.
If the money Haney receives for the fight is big, he can handle the IBF’s 10-lb rehydration limit, but his chances of winning the fight against the heavy-handed Paro (25-0, 15 KOs) will drop. Whether Haney can safely return to the 140-lb division is in doubt as he has looked dead hot over his last two fights against Ryan Garcia and Regis Prograis.
San Francisco native Haney was skeletal at the weigh-ins for those fights, eyes sunken and emaciated so badly that one worried he would make it to the fights. When a fighter is as dressed as Haney, there are concerns about his health.
That may be one of the reasons why Haney was beaten by Ryan last April. His punch resistance wasn’t there for the fight, and he was repeatedly dropped by Ryan in a 12-round loss in Brooklyn, New York.
Haney will not be at his best. He’s young enough to do it, but it’s only a good idea that he agrees to this fight if the IBF waives its 10-lb rule to make an exception. No one would if they had to withhold fluids until the day of the competition, especially when they are Haney’s size.
“I spoke to him (Haney) and he says if the deal is right, I don’t think he’ll have a problem,” Hearn told BoxingScene.
Paro: A formidable opponent
If the money Haney receives for the fight is big, it makes sense for him to take it, as long as he can handle the IBF’s 10-lb rehydration limit. Haney fought twice in Australia in 2022 and George Kambosos Jr. knocked However, the little ’emperor’ is nowhere near the talent level of Liam Paro, and it will be much more difficult for Haney to defeat him.
The southpaw Paro is a big puncher with a good chin and is coming off a 12-round unanimous decision over IBF 140-lb champion Subriel Matias on June 15 in Manatí, Puerto Rico.
Paro used movement, thrusts and claws to neutralize Matias’ power. Paro used a lot of roughhouse tactics, but it was effective against the limited Matias, who seemed to have no clue how to handle what he was doing.
