Three-division world champion Devin Haney is preparing to make his return to the ring after a 13-month period of inactivity, stepping straight into a welterweight title unification bout against Australia’s IBF champion Liam Paro next month. The match marks a key turning point for the boxer known as "The Dream," who has been out of action since his victory over Brian Norman Jr to capture the WBO welterweight title last November. While his impending return against Paro represents a crucial hurdle in solidifying his standing in the 147-pound division, Haney is already casting his eyes toward an even grander prize: a showdown for the undisputed welterweight championship against the winner of a potential battle between Ryan Garcia and Teofimo Lopez.
The long layoff following Haney’s title-winning performance against Norman Jr had increasingly become a point of frustration among boxing fans worldwide. As a premier talent and multi-division titleholder, Haney’s extended absence left the welterweight landscape in a state of suspense. However, the pieces have now fallen into place for his return after Haney signed an exclusive deal with the streaming platform DAZN. The agreement paved the way for his immediate entry into a crown-unifying clash against Paro, a world champion from Australia who holds the IBF belt. The unification contest presents an immediate test for Haney upon his return, offering him the chance to consolidate two of the major sanctioning body titles at 147 pounds in a single evening.
Despite the concentration required for a challenge like Paro, Haney has made no secret of his long-term roadmap for the weight class. Speaking in an interview with FightHype, the American fighter confirmed that his ultimate objective remains the undisputed championship at welterweight. To achieve that status, Haney is actively monitoring the developments surrounding fellow stars Ryan Garcia and Teofimo Lopez, who are linked with a prospective showdown of their own. When asked if he intended to pursue the winner of a Garcia-Lopez clash to bring all the major titles together, Haney was clear about his overarching vision, explaining that securing a match against the victor is the primary plan governing his future moves.
"Yes, of course," Haney stated regarding his interest in facing the victor of Garcia versus Lopez for undisputed status. "That is the plan. The Ryan Garcia fight is the fight that I want the most, it starts with Liam Paro, but yeah for sure, once I win this fight – you guys know who I have got my eyes on."
Haney’s remarks highlight a dual motivation. While the prestige of holding every major belt in the welterweight division drives his legacy ambitions, personal redemption remains an equally powerful factor. The desire to share the ring once again with Garcia stems from the volatile history between the two rivals, making a potential second encounter one of the most anticipated matches in modern boxing.
The history between Haney and Garcia carries significant weight in the sports landscape, defined by dramatic ring action and subsequent outside-the-ring controversy. The pair previously met in April 2024 in a highly publicized bout that produced shockwaves across the sport. On that evening, Garcia delivered a dramatic performance, scoring three knockdowns against Haney en route to securing a points victory at the end of twelve rounds. However, the official result of that clash was later thrown into total disarray when it was revealed that Garcia had failed a drug test conducted in connection with the event. As a result of the anti-doping violation, commission authorities officially overturned Garcia’s victory, ruling the fight a no contest.
Despite the official no-contest ruling legally wiping the defeat from Haney’s professional record, the memory of that night and the public perception surrounding the contest have remained a focus for Haney. The unresolved nature of their first encounter has left unfinished business between the two fighters, fueling public demand for a definitive second chapter. Haney believes that the momentum surrounding a potential rematch is reaching a critical point, driven both by fan interest and his own desire to clear up any lingering doubts about their rivalry.
Addressing the likelihood of a return match with Garcia, Haney expressed confidence that the interest and timing are aligning to make the event a reality on the global stage. "The stars are aligning," Haney remarked. "There is high demand from the fans already, there is high demand from me already, so it is aligning. I think that, once I am victorious in this fight and if Ryan is victorious, he has still got to beat Teo – or even if Teo is victorious – I would take either or for undisputed."
He went on to admit his preference for how the upcoming fights play out, emphasizing his personal wish for Garcia to prevail over Lopez simply so he can get the opportunity to settle their score inside the ring. "But, obviously I want Ryan Garcia to win, so that I can right that wrong," Haney added.
While Haney’s ideal roadmap leads to a fight against Garcia with the undisputed championship on the line, the reality of boxing governance could introduce significant complications. The prospective fight between Garcia and Teofimo Lopez is expected to carry major title implications, with Lopez holding the WBA welterweight crown. For a potential Haney vs. Garcia or Haney vs. Lopez bout to serve as a complete undisputed unification, all four major sanctioning body titles would need to be up for grabs. However, sanctioning body mandatory obligations could disrupt these plans before they materialize.
Specifically, the WBA may decide to enforce its mandatory rules regarding Lopez’s title defenses. Mandatory challenger Jack Catterall stands as a potential roadblock to a seamless unification tournament in the division. If the WBA chooses to strictly enforce Catterall’s status as the mandatory contender, Lopez could be forced to defend his WBA title against Catterall first rather than proceeding directly into a fight with Garcia. Should Lopez opt to bypass Catterall in favor of the Garcia fight without WBA approval, the organization could move to strip Lopez of his world title. Such a scenario would immediately fracture the titles at 147 pounds, stripping the proposed Garcia-Lopez match of its full championship hardware and potentially altering Haney’s plans of competing for the undisputed crown in his follow-up bout.
The landscape at welterweight is thus entering a pivotal phase, filled with interconnected matches and regulatory hurdles. Haney’s journey through this environment depends heavily on his ability to perform after his extended period on the sidelines. A 13-month layoff presents physical and mental challenges for any fighter, even one as accomplished as a three-division champion. Haney’s conquest of Brian Norman Jr to capture the WBO belt demonstrated his transition into the welterweight ranks, but maintaining that championship form against an undefeated opponent like Liam Paro will require sharpness from the opening bell.
Liam Paro represents a major obstacle on Haney’s path. As Australia’s reigning IBF world champion, Paro brings his own elite skills, unbeaten record, and championship ambition to the ring. For Paro, facing Haney on DAZN provides an opportunity to elevate his status on the global boxing stage and capture Haney’s WBO strap to unify half of the division’s titles. Recognizing the danger Paro poses, Haney has acknowledged that while long-term goals like Garcia, Lopez, and undisputed status are on his radar, nothing can happen without taking care of business in next month’s unification clash.
As the welterweight division prepares for a series of high-stakes collisions, Devin Haney finds himself positioned at the center of the weight class’s most compelling storylines. With his return bout against Paro fast approaching, his exclusive deal with DAZN secured, and the prospect of an undisputed unification fight with either Ryan Garcia or Teofimo Lopez waiting in the wings, the coming months promise to define the next phase of Haney’s career. Whether he can navigate the immediate threat of Paro and the complexities of sanctioning body mandatories to secure a rematch against Garcia remains to be seen, but "The Dream" has made his ultimate target clear to the boxing world.
