Devin Haney is BANNED from using sneaky tactic to stay in contact with his dad during Kambosos fight after father was blocked from entering Australia over drug conviction
- Haney’s father Bill was refused a visa due to a drug conviction
- He was going to communicate with his son via earpiece between rounds
- Boxing authorities blocked the idea, something Kambosos has supported
- Haney is still confident of winning the lightweight championship bout
Devin Haney has been dealt a blow ahead of his blockbuster fight with George Kambosos Junior, with authorities not permitting the fighter to communicate with his father via earpiece after he was blocked from entering Australia.
Haney’s dad Bill is also his trainer, and he was refused a visa to enter the country ahead of Sunday’s fight due to a 30-year-old drug conviction.
It led the Haney camp to the idea of talking fight tactics via an earpeice while watching a live feed from his US studio, but the boxing commission said no.
Devin Haney trains at Federation Square in Melbourne ahead of Sunday’s fight against George Kambosos
It would have been the first time an earpiece had been used in a boxing match, with Haney’s promoter telling News Corp it would have been have been the best technological coaching tactic in his 60 years involved in the sport.
The idea was Bill would be hooked up to his son’s stand-in trainer, Yoel Judah, via the earpiece, with Haney to then receive instructions via the piece in between rounds.
Bill Haney will be stuck in the US while his son fights in Melbourne
The world-first plan was scuppered by authorities in a decision Kambosos supported.
‘Look, I follow the rules, I go by the rules and the commission said no (to Bill Haney advising his son), so that’s the end of the story,’ he told a News Corp report.
‘The sanctioning body has said, ‘No earpieces’. Having an earpiece has never been done before in boxing history, so I support that, it’s a clear no in my eyes.’
George Kambosos jump ropes in Federation Square ahead of the fight
Preparations for the huge fight ramped up on Thursday, with each fighter holding an open training session at Melbourne’s Federation Square, which was attended by scores of fans.
Haney laughed off suggestions he wouldn’t be at the top of his game without his father.
Devin Haney does mitt work at Federation Square on Thursday
‘I have come here Down Under, as you guys would say, without my dad, without my head coach, and I will show you that it’s possible (to win without him) on Sunday,’ he said in the report.
‘Devin Haney will be victorious … I will be the youngest undisputed champion of the four-belt era.’
The card will begin at 9am from Marvel Stadium, with the main event set to start after 2pm.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk