Most elite boxers fight just twice a year and so in considering rankings, recent form matters a great deal. In college basketball, where there are multiple games a week, form over a longer period can be considered.
But when we consider Haney's last four fights -- wins over Jose Ramirez, Regis Prograis and Vasiliy Lomachenko and a no-contest with Ryan Garcia -- a pattern emerges. Haney was flat-out horrendous against Ramirez, who moved forward but had zero effective pressure.
He was poor against Garcia, though Garcia did test positive for PEDs post-fight and that can't be dismissed. Haney was brilliant in handling Prograis, but Prograis was in the midst of a significant decline. And while he was good against Lomachenko, many who watched felt Lomachenko deserved the nod.
As a result, Haney drops out of the Sweet 16. He's still an elite fighter and can box his way in with a performance that reminds us of his talent. But after the dud against Ramirez and the three knockdowns versus Garcia, Haney at this point has much to prove.