‘I want her to know that' – Devin Haney's new motivation in career after birth of his daughter ahead of boxing return
IN A career that has seen him win undisputed world titles and earn millions of dollars - Devin Haney finally has something else to fight for.
The American boxing star and model Leena Sayed welcomed baby daughter Khrome Iman into the world in January.
Advertisement
7
Devin Haney in training for his next fight
Credit: X / Realdevinhaney
7
Haney welcomed his daughter into the world alongside Leena Sayed
Credit: Instagram / leenasayed
7
Leena gave birth to her daughter in January
Credit: Instagram / leenasayed
Haney, 26, told SunSport: "Kids are a blessing, they bring more blessings and everything has been on the up and up since my daughter's been born.
"I thank Allah for that and it gives me more motivation and more drive to do it even more, even though I love the sport of boxing.
"It's just genuinely something that I love doing but it just gave me that, you know, that extra."
Haney - a former undisputed lightweight champion - has been a model pro throughout his boxing career.
Advertisement
So while he cannot improve on dedication, his newborn daughter is just the newest reason for giving up his life to the brutal sport.
Haney said: "I can't say necessarily it changed me because I think I'm just a warrior and no matter what, I want her to know that about her dad."
Haney has not returned since his controversial fight against Ryan Garcia in April 2024.
He was dropped four times before losing a decision - only for the result to be overturned after Garcia failed a drug test.
Advertisement
7
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
Haney set up in Big Bear California - known for its gruelling altitude - for his return and kissed his baby goodbye as he left for training camp.
He revealed: "This is my job at the end of the day. I know what I signed up for.
Advertisement
Why Devin Haney was 'smiling ear to ear' and Teofimo Lopez 'loved' Chris Eubank Jr's emotional reunion with his dad
"It is what it is and I was there to see her born and be with her and all of that.
"But now I had to go back to camp and go to work and do what I gotta do. And like I said, this is what I love to do at the end of the day.
"So one day she's gonna look back and she's gonna see that her dad is a legend and it all starts now.
"These are the moments that will make that come true."
Advertisement
Haney is already dreaming of the day his daughter is old enough for him to watch back and relieve some of his greatest boxing nights.
He said: "That's what it's about, being a good role model for her and just her looking, being able to look back on these moments, look at what I stood for and everything like that."
The ex-WBC super-lightweight champ prepares to fight for the first time in over a year - his longest career layoff - after taking a rare break.
Haney said: "I enjoyed my time off. I don't plan on ever having a layoff like that ever again but I enjoyed it.
Advertisement
"I had time to travel, spend time with family, stuff like that. But I'm ready to be back in the limelight and under those bright lights and I'm ready to perform...
One day she's gonna look back and she's gonna see that her dad is a legend and it all starts now. These are the moments that will make that come true.
Devin Haney
"I stayed in the gym the whole time. I was really just perfecting my craft the whole time.
"Even when I was travelling, I was still training and stuff like that because I knew that when I came back, I wanted to make a statement.
"I wanted to come back a better version of what I was before. So yeah, I've been in the gym for almost this whole year."
Advertisement
Garcia tested positive for ostarine - a banned substance known to boost muscle growth - and accepted a one-year ban.
It followed after tests taken on the day of and 24 hours after the fight - which has changed to a no-contest.
But, Garcia did clean VADA tests in the build-up to his bout with Haney and put the positive ostarine result down to contaminated supplements.
A massive rematch between the former amateur rivals is planned for this winter and already looming large.
Advertisement
But first, Haney faces Jose Ramirez, 32, and Garcia fights Rolando Romero, 29, in a stunning three-bout card at Times Square on Friday.
And Haney said: "Right now it's not time for me to speak on that. Right now my main focus is Jose Ramirez and focusing on Jose.
"We'll get to that Ryan fight after this one, but right now I put all my attention, all my focus on Jose Ramirez because he's a live dog. He's coming to fight.
"That's my main focus right now."
Advertisement
7
Ryan Garcia's win against Devin Haney was overturned after his failed drug test
Credit: Getty
7
Haney facing off with Jose Ramirez
Credit: Getty
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
26 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Former Rangers kid lands new club as he strengthens promotion chasing SPFL side
Two well-travelled stars of Scottish football are already in the door IN THE DOOR Former Rangers kid lands new club as he strengthens promotion chasing SPFL side Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN ex-Rangers kid has earned himself a big move within the SPFL after impressing last season. Becoming his new club's FIFTH signing of the summer already, he joins two former Celtic players coming through the door. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 2 Former Rangers kid Arron Lyall has joined recently relegated Ross County Credit: Kenny Ramsay 2 He impressed for fellow Championship side Greenock Morton last season Credit: Kenny Ramsay Ross County are bolstering their squad for a promotion bid having been relegated from the Premiership to the Championship via a playoff against Livingston. And the latest star they've picked up is Morton winger Arron Lyall. The 21-year-old, who came through the youth ranks at Ibrox, made an impact at Cappielow but has now made the switch to a league rival. He appeared in every match for the Greenock side last campaign, scoring two goals and assisting six. The Scotland youth cap only made one very short cameo for the Gers' senior team back in 2023 against Hibs in a post-split league fixture. But he also had a fairly successful loan spell at Airdrieonians before arriving at Morton. He joins the Staggies on a two-year deal, and manager Don Cowie said: "Arron arrives at the club on the back of an excellent season at Greenock Morton where he was named as their Young Player of the Year. "We are delighted we've managed to beat of a lot interest in securing the signature of Arron as we believe we have a player with fantastic potential, who possesses great technical ability from the midfield area which will excite our supporters." Sunderland defender Ben Crompton and Dundee United midfielder Ross Docherty recently committed to join the Dingwall outfit. And two familiar and experienced faces in Scottish football - both formerly of Celtic - have made the move. Shocking moment yobs brawl in Dingwall street before Ross County vs Livingston play-off clash They are centre back Declan Gallagher and winger Gary Mackay-Steven, the latter being a returning player for County as he made his start there as a kid. With 400 career games played in his career, most recently at Kilmarnock, Cowie commented: "Gary is another great addition to the group as he makes his return to the club. "He offers us good experience in the wide area of the pitch and we are delighted he has chosen to head back up North for the next chapter of his career." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scottish Sun
26 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
‘That was f***ing weird' – Moment female bare knuckle fighter KISSES opponent on lips in awkward face-off
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FIGHT fans were left stunned after a bareknuckle boxer KISSED her opponent during their final face-off. Former UFC stars Mariya Agapova and Jessica Eye took part in a tense final staredown on Friday night at the BKFC 76 ceremonial weigh-ins. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Mariya Agapova and Jessica Eye took part in a heated face off at the BKFC weigh-ins Credit: BKFC 3 Agapova stunned attendees by sensationally KISSING Eye on the lips Credit: BKFC Tensions between the former flyweight standouts were high before their faced off. And Kazakh killer Agapova upped the ante by KISSING Eye on the lips after she got right in her face. Eye, 38, didn't take kindly to Agapova's aggressive show of affection. The former UFC flyweight title challenger pushed her away and said: "That's so weird. So f***ing weird." READ MORE MMA NEWS BRUISE CRUISE Conor Mcgregor sports bruised eye in first sighting since brutal Ibiza attack Footage of the bizarre incident spread like wildfire on social media, with one fight fan commenting: " That was weird." Another said: "I guess Eye dealt with it well…. That's just cringe, though." And another said: " It's gonna be an interesting match." One remarked: "It's mad that these two were once in the UFC." JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 3 Maria Agapova's unprompted kiss went viral Credit: BKFC Another chimed in: "Looking forward to after the fight more." Agapova gave a short and sweet answer when asked why she decided to plant one on Eye's lips. EXCL Conor Mcgregor sports suspect eye as UFC thug dances with wife on yacht in first sighting since horror Ibiza attack Agapova said of the incident: "She just came too close." An annoyed Eye took to Instagram to further vent her frustration, he said: "You disrespected a warrior. "Now you're just the fuel for the fire that's about to burn your name." Both Agapova and Eye are in desperate need of a win having both lost their last SIX FIGHTS in a row, with the former's skid comprising of losses in boxing, grappling and MMA.
Daily Mirror
34 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Jenny Powell, 57, spills the truth behind her age-defying looks
EXCLUSIVE: Jenny Powell has been a fixture on our screens for more than three decades - and she's barely aged a day and now the TV star tells us how she keeps looking so youthful Jenny Powell is the TV face that simply does not age — and now she's finally lifted the lid on exactly how she keeps looking so fresh-faced at 57 (only just!), from high-tech blood treatments to the teen daughter who keeps her feeling twenty years younger. Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, the presenter - who first won hearts on Wheel of Fortune and is now hosting the Rewind Festival - laughs off her reputation as Britain's forever-youthful TV darling. 'People always say to me: 'Oh my God, you haven't aged!'' Jenny giggles. 'I go to a few people for remedies and treatments, and I said to one of them, what should I tell people? He said, 'Well, some of it's your genes, Jenny — but you do look after yourself!' And I suppose I do.' Yoga, a sprinkle of magic vitamins — and a bit of 21st century science, too. Jenny, who lives in South Manchester with fiancé Martin Lowe, 51, and their youngest daughter Pollyanna, 16, says it's a mix of ancient and cutting-edge secrets keeping her glowing. 'I do hot yoga about three times a week and I've just started Reformer too — it really keeps my mind and body in shape,' she says. 'I don't drink much, but I'm taking NAD now — I love it! It basically regenerates your cells after your 40s. I have it intravenously, which is pricey, about £300 a pop, but you feel amazing after. Then you switch to supplements to keep it up. It's fascinating stuff!' And the ultimate fountain of youth? Her teenage daughter Pollyanna. 'My kids keep me young. I've got a 24-year-old, but I had Pollyanna when I was like 40, 41. So I've still got a 16-year-old at 57. I have to keep up with her for a start! So I think it's just a combo of that. Just looking after yourself. Yoga's amazing for me." But behind the glam facade, Jenny admits it hasn't all been plain sailing. Last year, she made headlines when she spoke candidly about her life-changing hysterectomy - an Instagram post about it racked up a whopping two and a half million views in just 24 hours, sparking a wave of support. 'It was awful,' she says honestly. 'Yeah, it was awful. I had really bad symptoms, which I'd put up with for a very long time, like flooding terribly, like really badly. And migraines. I had backache. I had pelvic congestion, basically, because my uterus was the size of being 14 to 16 weeks pregnant. So it was enlarged. And it had fibroids and I had adenomyosis*(corr), which I didn't even know existed, which is sort of on the outer lining of your uterus." Adenomyosis is a condition where the tissue that normally lines the uterus (endometrium) grows into the muscular wall of the uterus (myometrium). This misplaced tissue continues to behave like normal uterine lining, thickening and bleeding during each menstrual cycle, which can cause heavy, painful periods, and pelvic pain. Today, mental health is top of her list - alongside making time for Martin, who she describes as her rock. 'He's so kind. And I think you're very conscious when you've got kids already. I mean, he hasn't got any kids. I think you're very conscious about who's going to come into the house and the home and get to know your family. 'You're very, very cautious. And he just adores the girls and he always has, Polly was two, three years old when we met and she's now 16. Polly was, she's 24 and she was like nine. I think it's his kindness I fell for. He can't help himself. He just thinks he can fix everyone. He's one of those. And of course, he is gorgeous!" Jenny has learned to prioritise herself as well as her loved ones - and she hopes other women will too. 'If your thoughts get the better of you first thing in the morning, you've had it for the rest of the day. So it's really having your own little mantras or something to the minute you wake up, you set your mindset in the right place. 'So, you know, even if it's singing your favourite song first thing when you wake up, putting frequencies on or repeating something three times, whatever it is that uplifts you, do it. Do it. Don't go on your bloody phone!" As she gears up to take the mic at this summer's Rewind Festival - and maybe even tackle the Strictly ballroom one day if bosses come calling again — Jenny says she's in no rush to slow down even as she turns 60 in three years. "I'm going to own it. Will I still be in a bikini, that's the question! Of course I will be! I think I'll still be in a bikini in my 60s, but if I'm not, I'm just trying to think why I wouldn't be! That's what we're trying to inspire women to do. It doesn't matter what people say, well, it's what is right for you. As long as I can do some yoga on the beach somewhere, I'll be happy," she beams. Cheers to that Jenny!
