Devin Haney is on the comeback trail following his unanimous decision loss turned no-decision performance against Ryan Garcia. Signs point to Haney skipping a tune-up fight and going straight to the big dogs in his weight region.
According to sources I spoke to with direct knowledge, Haney is negotiating to face Teofimo Lopez in his return bout. The source didn’t share dates or money, but Haney and Lopez would headline a massive card in 2025 if the fight is agreed to.
The card would be broadcast on ESPN and promoted by Top Rank.
Haney never lost his WBC super lightweight championship as it wasn’t on the line against Garcia due to the latter missing weight. Even if Garcia made weight, Haney wouldn’t have lost his title because his opponent tested positive for a banned substance, leading to the no decision.
However, because of Haney’s inactivity, he is no longer considered the WBC’s 140-pound champion. In June, Alberto Puello was elevated from interim champion to the governing body’s recognized title holder, and Haney was given a “champion in recess” title.
The undefeated Puello is supposed to face Sandor Martin in a mandatory defense, but a fight between him and Haney is still possible.
Lopez is the WBO super lightweight champion, and the man Ring Magazine recognizes as the top dog in the 140-pound division. Lopez defeated Steve Claggett in his last fight via unanimous decision in Florida.
Many criticized Lopez for a less-than-sterling performance, but he ran his win streak to five with the victory. Lopez’s last loss was a split-decision defeat to George Kambosos Jr., an opponent Haney outclassed on two separate occasions.
Styles make fights, so those results won’t impact what happens if Lopez and Haney lock horns. However, the ease with which Haney defeated Kambosos will likely lead to him being a slight favorite over Lopez ahead of the fight.
Lopez’s power hasn’t been displayed since he moved up to 140 pounds. He scored a TKO victory in August 2022 over Pedro Campa in his first fight since losing to Kambosos.
However, since he stopped Campa, Lopez hasn’t won by TKO or even dropped another opponent. Those facts lead to questions about his power at 140 pounds. Power has never been a major part of Haney’s bag.
He hasn’t scored a TKO/KO win since he forced Zaur Abdullaev to retire on the stool before the fifth round of their fight in September 2019. That fight was contested in the lightweight division as well.
Even without the high probability of a KO finish, Lopez and Haney are two of the more prominent names in the sport. After the Garcia fight and the craziness that followed, Haney is seemingly more popular now than before.
Lopez is the champion, but from a notoriety standpoint, he is seemingly pushing to find a big name to fight. There was some banter with Terence Crawford, but the fight with Haney seems much more practical.
Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.
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