Devin Haney vs Jose Carlos Ramirez Predictions: ‘The Dream’ looks to outrun his nightmares

Devin Haney returns this Friday, May 2 against seasoned campaigner Jose Carlos Ramirez at Times Square in New York. The card is headlined by Haney’s old foe, Ryan Garcia, who will be taking on Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero. DAZN PPV will screen this big night in The Big Apple.

Here are my Devin Haney vs Jose Carlos Ramirez predictions ahead of this super lightweight showdown.

Devin Haney vs Jose Carlos Ramirez Odds

Haney is a comfortable 1/14 to prevail with Ramirez out at 15/2. If you fancy a draw, you can back that at 22/1.

Devin Haney vs Jose Carlos Ramirez Fight Preview

Haney is in an awkward position. It is one he isn’t used to. While his ‘0’ remains intact, forged in the fires of unifying the lightweight division in some style, the whole world watched Haney lose last year. 

Of course that loss no longer exists on the official record and rightfully so. Garcia failed a brace of anti-doping tests after the fight and the result reverted to a No Contest. But the rescinding of the result cannot erase the memory. Some fans cannot let go of the fact that Garcia knocked Haney down three times and had his hand raised via majority decision.

We should look past it. That performance is at best tainted and at worst completely irrelevant. We would not applaud Paris Saint-Germain for beating Arsenal had they fielded 12 players. Garcia’s mockery against Haney is no different. “I saw what I saw” cry the agitators, but what you saw was an insult to the sport of boxing. If Garcia deserves any applause, it is a slow clap played out in an empty theatre by a man trying and failing to suppress a mocking cough.

But Times Square will not be empty for this card and nor should it be. Garcia has served his suspension and is well within his rights to return. You get the sense Haney will be watching closely, once he has taken care of business. 

Ramirez is not an easy opponent to conduct your fistic dealings with. ‘Jaguar’ has accomplished so much in the sport it feels incomprehensible that he is still only 32. 

Ramirez lifted his first world title in 2018, outpointing Amir Imam. Defences followed against Antonio Orozco, Jose Zepeda, Viktor Postol and in a unification fight with WBO king Maurice Hooker. A real murderer’s row of top super lightweight talent, all mauled by the ‘Jaguar’.

Ramirez met his match while striving to make history. He fought Scotland’s WBA and IBF champ, Josh Taylor, in a bid to become the first-ever four-belt boss at super lightweight. Ramirez came up short in a rousing fight. A cruel front row seat to see Taylor enter the pantheon at his expense.

The road back was hard, but impressive. A decision against Pedraza to put that rivalry to bed. A knockout of ex-champ Richard Commey. A dominant points victory over Rances Barthelemy, a former titlist at two weights. The train was firmly back on the tracks.

That was before Arnold Barboza Jr., challenging for Teofimo Lopez’s WBO crown on this very card, derailed Ramirez. His unbeaten fellow Californian took his biggest scalp to date with a competitive decision win, opening the door for an interim title showdown with Chorley’s Jack Catterall.

So while Barboza pursues the ultimate prize, Ramirez goes in as the underdog. It is not a position he is used to. But there is merit to it. Haney would be a career-igniting scalp for the 32-year-old. The pressure is off. It is Haney from whom a wondrous resurrection is expected. ‘Jaguar’ can just go about his work, knowing a win would send him back to the verge of the boxing stratosphere.

Devin Haney vs Jose Carlos Ramirez Full Card

Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando "Rolly" Romero

Devin Haney vs. Jose Ramirez

Teofimo Lopez Jr. vs. Arnold Barboza Jr.

Levale Whittington vs. Reito Tsutsumi

Devin Haney vs Jose Carlos Ramirez Prediction

Haney has often been criticised for his safety-first approach, but on nights like this it can be a great strength. Do not engage. Do not let the warrior from Cali drag you into a battle that will trouble Fight of the Year columns come September.

The only fighter to ever trouble Haney in a significant way was a chemically-enhanced Garcia. Ramirez is a great champion but one that perhaps increasingly belongs to the past. It is four years since he last held a world belt. There is possibly a route back for one last shot at the gold. But that route is not through Haney.

I am picking Haney to win on points at odds of 1/4. Styles-wise, I think this will be pretty straightforward for him. It might get rough on the inside, but if he can move and smother then he should be fine. 

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