WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney has named his boxing ‘Mount Rushmore’, identifying Floyd Mayweather, Sugar Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson as the sport’s greatest. This comes as Haney awaits confirmation of his next title defence against Keyshawn Davis.
Haney, who has not competed since winning his title from Brian Norman Jr. last November, is looking to build a legacy of his own. When asked to name the four fighters he holds in the highest regard, he began with a modern great known for his defensive skill and business acumen. He stated: “My Mount Rushmore of fighters are Floyd [Mayweather] because he changed the game, his defence, he just brought a whole different vibe to the sport of boxing.”
His second choice was a fellow welterweight legend celebrated for his complete skillset. Haney praised his aggressive and intelligent style, explaining, “My next is Sugar Ray [Leonard] because he was just a killer in the ring, he had the offence and the defence, his defence was his offence, he was just Sugar Ray.” He then selected the man widely considered ‘The Greatest’ for his impact both in and out of the ring. “[Muhammad] Ali. Ali just stood for so much and he is ‘The Greatest’.”
For his final selection, Haney chose a fighter from an earlier era, recognised for his incredible activity and dominance. The champion found the last spot difficult to fill but ultimately settled on a pioneer of the sport. “Number four, this is hard, the fourth spot, I’ll go Sugar Ray Robinson. What he was doing back in those days, fighting so often and all of those fights that he won. He is just a legend, so I would say Sugar Ray Robinson.”
While Haney reflects on boxing’s history, his own future is a subject of immediate focus. The WBO has ordered him to defend his welterweight title against mandatory challenger Keyshawn Davis. If the two camps cannot reach an agreement, the fight will go to purse bids on Monday, 20 July. This mandatory obligation puts potential bouts with rivals like Shakur Stevenson and a rematch with Ryan Garcia on hold until at least 2027.
