After a highly successful 2017 that saw him win all seven of his fights, Devin Haney's first fight in 2018 will put him on Showtime in a title fight.
Haney will face off against Mason Menard at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia on May 11. The fight will headline a ShoBox: The Next Generation television card and it will be for the vacant USBA lightweight title.
"This fight against Menard is very important to me and my brand. I want to show the world that I'm the next big star in boxing. A dominating win against Menard on Showtime will give the fans a taste of what I'm all about," Haney said in a press release.
Haney, who held the WBC Youth World lightweight last year, would be facing the most successful opponent in his young career. Haney started his career in 2015 and got off to a blazing start, winning all 18 of his pro fights. Haney was actually supposed to fight Harmonito Dela Torre on a ShoBox card earlier this year, but the fight got scrapped after Dela Torre had visa issues which prevented him from fighting in the United States.
Menard bounced back from a 2016 loss to current WBO lightweight champion Raymundo Beltran with a unanimous decision win over Carlos Cardenas last year. Menard is a former WBO-NABO and Universal Boxing Organization world lightweight champion with a 33-2 pro record.
Other fights taking place on the 2300 Arena boxing event are Glenn Dezurn vs. Joshua Greer Jr., Adam Lopez vs. Arnold Khegai and Alvin Varmall Jr. vs. Charles Foster.
