Promoter Eddie Hearn wants Devin Haney to make changes to his training team to prepare for when he returns to the ring next year.
Hearn believes Haney’s father, Bill Haney, is not the right man to advance the former two-weight world champion’s career following his loss to Ryan Garcia last April.
He wants to see an experienced guy train Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) and run the show because he believes Bill has taken him as far as he can. Hearn believes Bill is better on the business side, not the training.
Hearn questions Bill Haney’s effectiveness as head coach
Haney, 25, needs to make the right move because Ryan’s beating showed that he needs to make drastic changes to improve his defense and come up with a better plan for his next fight. Devin should never have fought a guy like Ryan because he doesn’t have the power.
“I think he needs to look at his team. His dad, I love Bill (Haney). He’s behind him 100%, but is he the right person to move him forward strategically in the ring?” promoter Eddie Hearn said on the YouTube channel All The Smoke, talking about the advice he gives Devin Haney to rebuild his career and come back after the nightmare of his fight against Ryan Garcia.
Haney probably won’t like Hearn openly saying he needs to take his father, Bill, off his training staff. But he has to do something because having a hype man on his side isn’t going to work when he needs a real coach who can give him good advice to protect his chin and prevent him from getting beat up like he did against Ryan.
“I never liked that thing with three or four trainers where they’re in the dressing room doing the padding with him. AJ went through that system when he fought Usyk; he was so lost,” Hearn said.
“They (Haney) need a guy to tell him, ‘Listen, this is what you need to do.’ They’ve never seen anything like this. Nobody in this corner has been in this situation before. You have to look at your training staff,” Hearn said.
Bill Haney’s strengths lie in business, not training
Haney was nearly stopped against Jorge Linares in 2021 when a powerful left-right combination hurt him late in the 10th round. Haney staggered in the 11th and 12th rounds but was able to clinch his way to the final bell.
“Bill has done a great job for Devin from a business perspective. He has made him a lot of money, but now it’s all about strategy. I think from a business perspective, Bill will get the best deal with Devin,” Hearn said.
