Welterweight contender Delante Johnson called out champion Devin Haney following his victory on Saturday, but the prospect of a future fight was quickly dismissed. Haney cited an ongoing legal dispute as a firm barrier to any potential matchup between the two fighters.
After securing a 10-round unanimous decision over Christopher Guerrero, Johnson made a direct challenge to the WBO champion. “Devin, tell him to come see me,” Johnson stated in the ring. The callout, however, was met with a swift and definitive rejection from Haney on social media. Haney wrote on X, “I’m not gonna say anything about guy.. cause he got a restraining order against me & my pops. . still fighting the case,”. His response made it clear that no fight discussions would proceed while the legal matter remains unresolved.
Johnson’s performance that prompted the challenge was a controlled, if unspectacular, victory. He defeated Guerrero by scores of 100-92, 99-91 and 99-91, using his jab and body work effectively. Still, the fight did little to elevate his status as a major threat in the division. Guerrero, an opponent with limited national exposure, found moments of success and was able to withstand Johnson’s offense for the full distance. Johnson’s noted lack of knockout power was again apparent, as he was unable to secure a stoppage and instead settled for a points win.
The outcome leaves Johnson in a difficult position. A victory was necessary to maintain his ranking, but the manner of the win failed to generate the kind of momentum needed to force a title opportunity. With Haney publicly refusing to engage due to the restraining order, Johnson’s path to a championship fight is blocked. He must now find other ways to build his profile and pressure the division’s top names, a task made more difficult without a signature knockout victory on his recent record.
