Devin Haney has too much at stake to worry about what else is happening around him.
It hasn’t stopped the young lightweight contender from appreciate how the stars seem to be aligned for his impending title run.
The 20-year old Las Vegas-based boxer is focused on his upcoming title eliminator versus Russia’s Zaur Abdullaev (11-0, 7KOs), with the Sept. 13 battle of unbeaten lightweights streaming live on DAZN from Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater in New York City. The winner will be named the mandatory for one of the three belts currently in possession of pound-for-pound entrant Vasiliy Lomachenko (14-1, 10KOs), who claimed a 12-round win over England’s Luke Campbell over the weekend in London.
“I always liked the idea of that fight taking place before ours,” Haney (22-0, 14KOs) told BoxingScene.com. “It don't mean as much when you claim you’re willing to fight anyone when you don't know your next fight. So now I get to say that I want Vasiliy Lomachenko next once we get past Zaur Abdullaev.”
The last of the four divisional titles will be at stake later this year, as defending title claimant Richard Commey (29-2, 26KOs) faces unbeaten mandatory challenger Teofimo Lopez (14-0, 11KOs). As previously reported by BoxingScene.com, terms have been reached for the two to square off Dec. 14 in the main room at MSG.
It was a dramatic shift in negotiations for a fight that was ordered in early August, but for weeks carrying concern that it wouldn’t materialize due to ongoing internal issues within Lopez’s camp. Whether or not any resolution came about for Lopez is not immediately known.
For now, the fact that the fight is due to take place at all is one for the win column.
“I’m really happy that Teofimo is going through with that fight,” Haney noted. “I don’t know who will win, but I’m happy that Teofimo Lopez has his head right and is able to fight for the title.
“All these big fights, everything’s happening at the right time. Everything is falling right into place for my career. I always expected to be where I am right now in my career. To be within a win of fighting for my first world title, two wins away from becoming undisputed champion—I’m just glad all these fights are going on like they’re supposed to. It’s a great time to be a top lightweight.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox