Jose Ramirez Warns Devin Haney of ‘Big Challenge’ Ahead of Fight Night

Talking to SecondsOut, Ramirez seemed confident about his performance against Haney and opened up about his plans for fight night. “He has a big challenge in front of him. That’s what boxing should be: the best fighting the best. I feel ready. I feel strong, and I feel motivated. He has nothing that worries me,” he said.

Ramirez will be facing Haney at a catchweight (144 pounds), which happens to be a 4-pound weight jump for him. He expressed his excitement in adding weight, calling it an introduction to fighting in the 147-pound division.

Ramirez believes that Haney has yet to face any strong 140-pounders, which is rather surprising as he had faced (and fared well against) both Ryan Garcia and Regis Prograis. It is worth speculating if Ramirez considers himself a stronger fighter than Garcia or Prograis (he most definitely does).

Meanwhile, he is also a big believer in Haney’s skillset and is certain that his fight against Garcia hasn’t negatively impacted his drive as a fighter. “No, I’m expecting the best version of Devin Haney. That’s all in the past,” he said. “Not all the glory grows through joy. Sometimes, you have to go through some punishment, letdowns, and fallout to make you a better person.”

“People Get Influenced”

Ramirez will be entering the fight as the underdog, which is not surprising owing to Haney’s unwavering popularity. But Ramirez will not let this deter his performance and is certain he’ll emerge as the victor.

“I think sometimes boxing takes a popularity influence. So, people get influenced based on the popularity of a fighter,” he said during the same interview. “His best legacy in boxing has been at 135. I’m not saying he’s not ready for 140, but I think I was one of the best 140s at one point. I’m moving up to 144 catchweight. It’s going to be very difficult for him to take some of that power.