Fight Cancellation Announcement
A much-anticipated bout between WBO light welterweight titleholder Teofimo Lopez and former lightweight champion Devin Haney, scheduled for August 16, has been officially scrapped. Lopez’s team announced that he has decided against participating in the fight due to personal issues. Initially, the matchup was expected to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Haney’s Expectations and Previous Fights
Haney, who boasts an undefeated record of 32 wins, including 15 knockouts, was looking forward to this fight after previously defeating Jose Ramirez in Times Square on May 2. The plan was for him to battle Ryan Garcia in a rematch later this year, but after Garcia suffered an unexpected defeat against Rolando Romero and underwent hand surgery, that plan was no longer feasible.
Negotiation Insights
In a surprising turn, Lopez, with a record of 22 wins and just 1 loss, had previously expressed interest in facing unified welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis, a move that raised eyebrows given the weight class difference. Haney took to X to clarify the situation, stating that no contract had been finalized, and Lopez had not committed to the fight. Haney criticized Lopez, accusing him of stalling and declaring himself ready to fight at 147 pounds, while Lopez preferred the weight class at 140 pounds. They had even discussed a potential compromise at 145 pounds, but clearly, the negotiations fell through.
Lopez’s Decision and Apology
Lopez has refrained from publicly addressing the cancellation but had recently experienced tensions with Turki Alalshikh, the Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia and owner of Ring Magazine, who would have promoted the event. Following a string of negative tweets directed at Alalshikh, Lopez issued a public apology for his comments.
Co-manager’s Statement
Keith Connolly, Lopez’s co-manager, provided insights into the decision-making process, emphasizing that Lopez needed to prioritize his mental and physical well-being. Connolly stated,
“Teo won’t be fighting in August for personal reasons that I will keep confidential. We were planning on fighting, but due to the circumstances, he wanted to ensure he was fully ready. August was just too soon for him.”
Connolly remains optimistic about Lopez’s return, saying he expects the fighter to make a triumphant comeback later this year.
