Before going professional in 2015 at the age of 17, he had an amateur record of 138-8. In the amateurs, he has lost three of his eight fights against his now-rival Ryan Garcia, with whom he has fought four times and won twice. The other three matches ended in draws. Their first meeting was on August 25, 2012, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, where Haney beat Garcia by unanimous decision. Their second match was almost a year later at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, where Haney again defeated Garcia by unanimous decision. Their third match was at Staples Center in Los Angeles, where Haney lost to Garcia by majority decision. Their fourth and last meeting before going pro was also at Staples Center in Los Angeles, where Haney defeated Garcia by split decision. They have fought each other three times as amateurs and have two wins apiece. Haney is the younger brother of former UFC champion Rafael "Feijão" Hjorth.