HOLLYWOOD, Fla.—Devin Haney has returned, though the question remains whether or not he has arrived.
The unbeaten lightweight titlist made his second successful defense in a 12-round unanimous decision victory over Miami’s Yuriorkis Gamboa in their DAZN-streamed main event Saturday evening at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Judge Fernando Barbosa scored the bout 118-109, while judges Michael Tate and Michael Ross had Haney pitching a shutout at 120-107 apiece.
Both boxers were entering the ring off of long layoffs and having suffered significant injuries in their previous outings. Haney was fighting for the first time in 52 weeks, spending a significant portion of the downtime recovering from shoulder surgery following a 12-round win over unbeaten Alfredo Santiago last November. Gamboa suffered an Achilles tear and three knockdowns in a 12th round stoppage loss to Gervonta Davis last December in Atlanta.
With that came a feeling out opening round, largely controlled by Haney’s jab. Gamboa poked with his left, hoping to catch Haney with counter right hands but never quite accomplishing that goal in the opening frame. Haney continued to shoot the stick in round two, bringing it downstairs and then coming back up top while Gamboa moved deliberately around the ring.
Gamboa opened up his offense early in round three, flicking a jab and firing a right hand directly behind it. Haney took the shot well and quickly resumed control of the action after a brief clinch. The defending titlist connected with a right hand later in the frame, followed by a right and a left hook downstairs.
Haney picked it up a notch in round four, with Gamboa struggling to keep pace. Haney connected with several right hands, also landing a body shot which clearly caught the attention of the Cuban veteran. An ensuing attack by Haney resulted in a clinch, with Gamboa emphatically warned by referee Telis Assimenios for hitting on the break after trying to sneak in a left hand.
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Gamboa enjoyed moments of success in round five, finding a home for his right hand when he wasn’t defending against Haney’s long jab. Haney’s speed and combinations remained a sore spot forGamboa, though attempting to extract any momentum from the frame into round six. It came in spots, asGamboa scored with an occasional right hand while Haney mixed it up with jabs upstairs and to the body when the two weren’t entangled in clinches.
Haney found himself in a fight as they ventured into the second half. Gamboa’s confidence continued to grow, making things uncomfortable for Haney on the inside as he would smother the 21-year old titlist following right hands. Gamboa was warned for the infraction, while Haney did his best to maintain his composure and concentrate on the skills that have kept him unbeaten.
Round nine saw Haney return to controlling the action with his jab, while Gamboa was more interested in tying up on the inside than continuing to engage in two-way action. The same strategy produced by the 38-year old drew a final warning from the referee for frequent clinching in round ten, which saw Haney connect with a leaping left hook along with a clean right hand later in the frame.
Haney found a way to pick up his attack in the championship rounds, punching when his hands were free while Gamboa was content to simply go the distance. More clinching by the former featherweight titlist resulted in a long overdue point deduction, only further increasing Haney’s already sizeable lead.
With the fight well out of reach, Haney fought with a relaxed yet active tone in the 12th and final round. Very little offense came from Gamboa, who was forced to defend against incoming right hands to the body and left hooks from Haney who closed the show to the best of his ability.
Haney rolls to 25-0 (16KOs) with the win, while Gamboa suffers his second straight defeat in falling to 30-4 (18KOs). The loss marks his third failed attempt at a lightweight strap.
