Bill Haney Eyes Teofimo Lopez “Grudge Match” for His Son While Predicting His Fate Against Jamaine Ortiz

Soon after Ryan Garcia changed his mind and locked on Rolando Romero for his upcoming fight, the chances of a new fixture arose. Why can’t Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez follow up on their rivalry and close it in the ring? The duo have been feuding for a long time. Talks for an eventual clash in the lightweight division abounded but never came through. Last year, Haney followed Lopez into the light welterweight division. So will the fans get to see that much-vaunted fight now, at least?

Bill Haney seems to have a view on the dream line-up. However, he also has to take care of a new fix for the division’s ever-changing dynamics. ‘The Takeover’ joined the 140-pound division in 2022 and became the WBO light welterweight champion after defeating Josh Taylor on June 10 last year. ‘The Dream’ followed a few months later and defeated Regis Prograis to become the WBC titlist. Haney awaits his next fight. Whereas Teofimo Lopez has one in hand. He will fight Jamaine Ortiz on February 8 at the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas. Now that’s where a strange predicament lies for Haney Sr. As much as he hopes for his son to close the bitter rivalry with Lopez, he has to reconcile with another variable now.

A Fight at the Crossroads: Teofimo Lopez vs. Jamaine Ortiz

The reporter with FightHype already knew about it. He asked Bill Haney when they met at the Chelsea Ballroom in Paradise, Nevada. The venue hosted the Matchroom event, headlining Conor Benn‘s fight with Peter Dobson.

“Teofimo is fighting next week, Jamaine Ortiz. I know that we’ve seen your relations with Jamaine Ortiz; obviously, um, that fight, I mean, are you torn because the relationship you have with Jamaine?”

But Haney Sr. made it clear that he had nothing but the best wishes for Jamaine Ortiz and his team for what could be a very skillful fight. “Listen, heck of a fight, heck of a fight. You know I hope, um uh nothing but uh pleasantries I wish nothing but pleasantries for um Jamaine Ortiz and his team um that they can come out victorious,” he said.

But at the same time, he poured out what he felt. It’s been some time since he started helping out ‘The Technician’ Ortiz for his first world title challenge. But therein lies the quandary.

Bill Haney: All for a Precarious Showdown

If Ortiz succeeds in defeating ‘The Takeover’, the much-needed grudge match with Devin Haney could hang in the balance. However, at the same time, he wouldn’t want his charge to lose either. Nevertheless, towards the end, he made it clear for whom he would be rooting.

“Of course it’s uh, I have conflicting feelings while saying that because it will ruin the ultimate grudge match that we have with the Lopez team Lopez um so you know, may the best man win, um, you know, a lot knows best, um, you know, and and like I said, I’ll be there as a fan, but you know what I mean, I’ll be a little bit biased towards uh, Ortiz cuz that’s my Muslim brother,” Bill Haney said.

So far, Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney’s journey might resemble planetary objects. They circle around the divisions. But like two orbital planets, they never appear to collide. When it comes to celestial bodies, we can understand why they can’t. However, fans are eagerly waiting for Lopez and Haney to come up.

Watch This Story: Teofimo Lopez Says He Can Take Out Devin Haney, Gervonta Davis, Josh Taylor, and Others in One Night

What’s your take? Do you believe that even in the event of a defeat, Teofimo Lopez fighting Devin Haney would still make sense? Please share your views with us in the comments below.

Read More: “No You Don’t Hug Me”: Bill Haney Seen Locking Horns With Teofimo Lopez Sr. as Talks for a Potential Devin Haney Fight Rages On