Boxing Challenge: Haney Decisions Diaz

     Devin Haney figured to be tested by Joseph Diaz on Saturday and he was as Diaz put forth his usual determined effort but Diaz has always been a solid top ten fighter and against the best in the sport has fallen short.

Nothing changed in Las Vegas as Haney had too much speed and boxing ability for Diaz in winning a unanimous decision that may have been wide but was not easy.

Haney won on scores of 117-111 (x two and my scorecard) and 116-112 and despite Diaz never giving up and occasionally landing a good punch on Haney, the champion was never in the type of trouble that he navigated in his last fight against Jorge Linares.

Diaz stung Haney a bit in the final round as he fired several lefts in an attempt to score a knockout but was unable to finish the champion.

Haney may be headed to Australia for a fight for all four titles against George Kambosos in a fight that would be the biggest fight in Australian boxing history but Kambosos also could decide to fight Vasyl Lomachenko, should Lomachenko defeat Richard Commey next week or even Gervonta Davis in a long shot should Davis defeat Isaac Cruz.

Any of those three choices would be a strong fight against Kambosos and an easy sell but I'm guessing considering the principles involved with Lomachenko (Top Rank) and Davis (PBC) that it will be Devin Haney that will get the call.

In London, Anthony Yarde avenged his split decision loss to Lyndon Arthur in December with a fourth-round knockout.

Yarde began to walk Arthur down from the opening bell and immediately showed that this was going to be a different outcome than the first fight.

Arthur won the second round and appeared to shake Yarde a little in the fourth round with a right hand although that was his downfall as Yarde suddenly charged Arthur and landed a series of body shots which instantly took their toll on a weakened Arthur.

Arthur attempted to clinch his way through the problems but Yarde refused to tie up and after a right hand to the head dropped Arthur to the floor, where he barely beat the count but the fight was ended anyway.

A huge win for Yarde and with Arthur being ranked first by the WBO, it is likely that Yarde will take over that position, and promoter Frank Warren stated after the match that Yarde has an agreement in place to face the winner of the Joe Smith-Callum Johnson in January for that championship that is currently held by Smith.

In the boxing challenge, Ramon Malpica added four points to my two to cut my lead to 160-143.

Back later with the Gervonta Davis PPV card, once I have a chance to watch all three fights.