Boxing
Devin Haney vs. Joseph Diaz Jr.: date, time, viewing, background
devin haney will take on joseph diaz jr. in a battle of the top lightweight contenders on Friday on dazn.
Devin Haney (26-0, 15 KOs) vs Joseph Diaz Jr. (32-1-1, 15 KOs)
- Day: Friday, December 4
- Time: 8pm ET / 5pm Pacific Time (main event follows)
- Where: MGM Grand, Las Vegas
- TV / Stream: DAZN
- Value: DAZN is $19.99 per month or $99.99 annually
- Assignment: Light (limited to 135 pounds)
- Under threat: No main title
- Ranking in British Pounds: Not available
- The odds: Haney 5-1 favorite (multi-store average)
- Also on the card: Jessica McCaskill vs. Victoria Bustos, welterweight (for McCaskill’s undisputed championship); Filip Hrgovic vs. Scott Alexander, strong contenders; Montana Love vs. Carlos Diaz, middleweight contenders
- Guess: Haney UD
- Story: The WBC has designated Haney as its 135-pound title holder but Boxing Junkie recognizes “franchise champion” George Kambosos as the sanctioning agency’s true trustee. Haney has been preparing for a showdown with one of the big-name lightweights but has so far been empty-handed. However, that doesn’t mean he hasn’t faced quality opponents. He’s having the biggest win of his career, a convincing one decision for veteran Jorge Linares in May, that enhanced his reputation as a budding star. And Diaz could be a step up from Linares. The 2012 US Olympic athlete recorded his breakthrough victory last January, when he pointed out Tevin Farmer to win the £130 grand slam. He lost his title on the scale before his first defense and drawing with Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov last February. However, he recovered by pointed out Javier Fortuna in his first bout as an official lightweight athlete in July, which greatly increased his reputation. Friday’s winner will be in a strong position to challenge the Kambosos for the undisputed championship.