Devin Haney vacated his super lightweight championship and will be considered a “champion in recess” at his request.
The World Boxing Council (WBC) said in a statement released Monday that its governing board unanimously approved Haney’s request and declared him World Champion in WBC Recess.
Haney had made it clear via comments on social media that he wanted to take time away from boxing and was not interested in fighting Sandor Martin, his mandatory title challenger.
The WBC named former interim world champion Alberto Puello as the super lightweight world champion. Puello was ordered to defend the title against Martin.
Haney, 25, is 31-0 with 15 knockouts in his professional career. He lost a fight to Ryan Garcia in April, but Garcia tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance and the result was changed to a no contest. Garcia has since been suspended for one year.
Haney’s title was not on the line, anyway, because Garcia came in over the 140-pound weight limit.
Puello, a 29-year-old from the Dominican Republic, is 23-0 with 10 knockouts all-time.
–Field Level Media
