UFC Bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley has been looking to get in on the boxing scene for months. He has come no closer to scheduling a boxing bout within those months, however, he has surely riled up a few boxers with his comments. Recently, O’Malley claimed that the unified Lightweight boxing champion Devin Haney is not a well-known athlete.
Haney and O’Malley have had a back-and-forth on X in September. The UFC fighter claimed he could beat Haney in a boxing bout and the boxer responded, “I guess yall MMA punks haven’t learned yet.”
I guess yall MMA punks haven’t learned yet.. https://t.co/PO2yxS0gHt
— Devin Haney (@Realdevinhaney) September 14, 2023
In another recent run-in on X, Haney asked O’Malley to not get ahead of himself. O’Malley responded with “Alright let’s meet up.”
However, on his podcast, O’Malley said that he asked UFC for a boxing match against Haney and the promotion told him that it’s not possible because Haney is not famous.
“The thing about Devin Haney is like, I’m not trying to throw shade or anything, but I’ve legit literally never watched him box one fight ever,” O’Malley said on his ‘TimboSugarShow’ podcast. “I didn’t even really know who he was until more recent.
“Like him, Gervonta, there’s a guy named like Shakur (Stevenson). I talked to the UFC about a potential boxing fight someday, and they were like, ‘No one knows Devin Haney. There’s a 0 percent chance that ever happens. He’s just not a star. No one knows him.’”
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The latest MMA fighter to transition to boxing was Francis Ngannou. The former UFC Heavyweight champion made his boxing debut against Tyson Fury. Ngannou surprised the world with his boxing prowess but Fury controversially won the bout via split decision. Many fighters voiced their claims about Ngannou deserving the win.
Devin Haney believes a boxing bout against Sean O’Malley will not be competitive
During an in-studio appearance on MMA Hour almost a week ago, Haney was asked about his run-in with O’Malley. Haney did not believe MMA fighters could beat boxers in the boxing ring. He admitted that just like he wouldn’t be able to do it in a cage with them, they wouldn’t be able to do it in a boxing ring against him.
The American boxer said a boxing bout against O’Malley will not be competitive. “It’s not the best thing for Sean O’Malley to get into a boxing ring with me,” Haney warned. “It’s just, it’s not. It won’t be competitive. It won’t be competitive. But I respect him in the cage, what he does in the cage. He’s a hell of a fighter in the cage. But when you step into that square circle, the boxing ring, it’s a totally different thing.”
However, Haney praised O’Malley’s boxing abilities. According to the 30-0 undefeated boxer, Israel Adesanya, Conor McGregor, and Sean Strickland are some UFC fighters with strong boxing abilities.
Shakur Stevenson warned O’Malley about his boxing adventure
O’Malley is being called out by boxers because of his recent comments. The latest one was Shakur Stevenson, a former world champion in two weight classes.
During a recent interview with ‘TMZ Sports‘, Stevenson said, “I say if they [MMA fighters] feel that way [about their chances of success in boxing], give it a try. I think that you got some MMA guys that want to come get in the ring with somebody like me. I would love the opportunity to beat up an MMA guy and show them that there’s real levels to it.”
Stevenson claimed that Fury was not at his best in his fight against Ngannou. A sentiment that was shared by Fury’s next opponent Oleksandr Usyk.
“I just think Tyson Fury was off that night and them (MMA) dudes need to relax and stay in their lane. What’s that dude’s name, Sean O’Malley? Tell him we can get it in. I’m ready to lock in with him… It’s levels to this s**t. If he wants to come try his hand, I’ll beat the s**t out of him.”
O’Malley responded to Stevenson’s callout by saying that he would “punch a gap thru this dude’s teeth.”
With so much hype already being created around O’Malley against boxers, we wouldn’t be surprised to see a fight scheduled soon.