via Getty
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 17: Teofimo Lopez Jr celebrates after defeating Vasiliy Lomachenko (not pictured) in their Lightweight World Title bout at MGM Grand Las Vegas Conference Center on October 17, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank via Getty Images)
via Getty
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 17: Teofimo Lopez Jr celebrates after defeating Vasiliy Lomachenko (not pictured) in their Lightweight World Title bout at MGM Grand Las Vegas Conference Center on October 17, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank via Getty Images)
Lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez will not fight his rival Devin Haney after all. Instead, the unbeaten champion has found a new opponent and has had to put the Haney fight on hold. He has also explained why this decision came about.
Lopez and Haney have been going at it ever since the former beat Vasyl Lomachenko. Moreover, rumors suggested that the fight was close for the end of April. However, it now appears it will not happen.
via Getty
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 17: In this handout image provided by Top Rank, Teofimo Lopez Jr celebrates after defeating Vasiliy Lomachenko (not pictured) in their Lightweight World Title bout at MGM Grand Las Vegas Conference Center on October 17, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank via Getty Images)
Cameron Wolfe of ESPN was the first to report the news that Lopez will now most likely take on George Kambosos Jr. ‘Ferocious’ is the IBF mandatory and was in the mix previously before the Haney rumors. Kambosos Jr earned the fight by beating Lee Selby to become mandatory.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Haney holds the only lightweight belt that ‘The Takeover’ does not have. Thus, Lopez was torn between fighting the two. However, he now seems to have come to his decision.
Moreover, the initial reports suggested that if the fight against Kambosos Jr went ahead, it would be in Australia. However, it now appears the bout will take place in the USA.
READ: Meet Rylie Garcia – The Daughter of Ryan Garcia
Why did Teofimo Lopez pick George Kambosos over Devin Haney?
The undefeated American explained his decision to pick the Australian. Despite his desire to shut down Devin Haney, Lopez suggested he valued the work of Kambosos Jr to get to the top of the challengers.
“I have to pay my respect to that guy. He fought his way up, the same way I had to fight my way up to be IBF lightweight world champion before I got to the point where I fought Vasiliy Lomachenko,” said Lopez.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
via Getty
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 20: Teofimo Lopez celebrates his fifth rounf knockout of Edis Tatli during their lightweight fight at Madison Square Garden on April 20, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
He then addressed the criticisms of him ducking Haney and said he is just following the process. However, he confirmed that if anything goes wrong with the negotiations, ‘The Dream’ would be next in line to face him.
Therefore, we now know why Kambosos Jr is the next in line to face Lopez. However, we’re not sure it will go down well with the lightweight division or fans of the sport.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
What do you make of this news? Do you think Teofimo Lopez is justified in giving Kambosos Jr a shot at the title, or do you think he’s avoiding Haney?
