Quick boxing trivia. Who is boxing’s youngest world champion right now? As of Oct. 23rd, it’s 20-year-old, Devin Haney (23-0-0), who wasn’t too shy about letting everyone know about it.
Ironically there was no crowning moment in the ring for the Bay Area boxing prodigy. Haney aka “The Dream” was simply handed the WBC lightweight title by the World Boxing Council after the former champ Vasyl Lomachenko (14-0-0) was bumped up to “franchise champion.”
According to the WBC, a “franchise champion” is a special status for boxers who have “achieved and maintained the highest of statures in the sport.” Although it sounds like “leveling up” in a video game, the Mexico City-based boxing organization previously awarded the “franchise champion” to Canelo Alvarez. Basically, the WBC designation is a hall pass for boxing’s superstars to neglect their mandatories with little-to-no consequence.
Haney, who was originally waiting in the wings as Loma’s WBC mandatory challenger, now will have a chance to fight as the champ on Nov. 9th on the Logan Paul vs. KS undercard, although his opponent has yet to be announced.
