Is Teofimo Lopez ducking Haney?

[whollisboxing]

Now, I'm a fan of both fighters, and I prefer Teo, but I have been thinking about this lately.

Teo has a lot of options to go after beating Loma...no doubt he is one of the best lightweight in the division, if not the best. If he became unified at 140 that would easily do a lot for his legacy. But he's not moving to 140 yet, not at least for a year. Why doesn't he try to fight Haney? End the asteriks if whether or not he is truly undisputed. Loma vacated the belt to Haney, whether or not it was because he was ducking Haney (I think he was), that would make him the rightful champ.

I don't want to state the obvious, but clearly Teo has a better resume. They have fought a couple of the same journeymen, with Teo destroying much faster than Haney. Teo finished a prime Commey, an undefeated Nakatani, and Loma who has the man at 135 lbs. Haney obviously falls short as the best names on his resume would be ancient Gamboa and an undefeated Alfredo Santiago.

That being said, Haney is nice off the eye test. Everybody makes fun of his performance against Gamboa (rightfully so), but even though he didn't live up to expectations, I didn't see him troubled at all. Haney is extremely confident, but doesn't come off as a bully as Teo sometimes does. He has no problem fighting any of the top lightweights. He's not quite a superstar but neither is Teo.

That being said, I feel like Teo would beat Haney if they ever fought. I just don't know why Teo won't fight Haney. Not calling him a duck but I'd like to hear others.

There are a few reasons why Teo isn't interested in fighting Devin Haney right now:

1. Promotional/network differences, Teo is on ESPN while Haney is on DAZN. Not that they couldn't work together but promoters try to keep those types of fights in-house if they can help it.

2. Haney needs an impressive victory over a bigger name to generate buzz. I agree as far as the eye test but Devin needs to dominate better competition and entertain a bit more in the process. Yes he shut Gamboa out but he needed to get him out of there, or at least make the ref or corner think about stopping the fight.

3. Haney is a tough matchup. Teo could win the fight but it probably wouldn't be easy. He would have to go get Devin, as opposed to sitting back and landing big counters

I would like to see the fight as well but Haney needs to beat someone like Javier Fortuna, preferably in impressive fashion.

[boliodogs]

Why would he duck a guy he could so easily beat? Haney became champion without beating anybody very good. Sometimes in these days of 4 champions per weight class and often vacant titles a very easy route to winning a belt can be arranged by powerful promoters. Lopez beat the best lightweight in the world. If Haney ever beat a legit top 7 lightweight what was his name?

[El_Mero]

No. End thread.

[TheBoxGod]

No, theirs no real reason for Lopez to fight Haney. Theirs no demand for it, Lopez is the real man of the division. Theirs better money fights for lopez than haney.

Haney job is to put himself into a position where Lopez cant deny him and lets just say with that Gamboa showing he surely didnt do that.

[Fangedgrowl]

lopez just fought 2 top 3 guys in a row. haney has never faced a top 10 guy. the fact that people are buying into this crazy narrative shows that its working. well done to team haney. thats how you promote yourself!

Thats the straight truth. Haney is not being ducked by anyone. Who has he beaten. Tell him to quit ducking Fortuna then.

[RightJabLikeZab]

Kambosos next. Great fight for Teofimo.

[HandsofIron]

Hopefully the fight happens soon but I'd like Haney to fight at least one more proven veteran, who isn't washed-up, before the Lopez fight goes down. Haney vs Linares, Easter or a Fortuna would be decent.

[Outwest Exp 355]

What's his ratings been? PPV?

He fights on DAZN. He hasn’t fought on PPV.

[GhostofDempsey]

He fights on DAZN. He hasn’t fought on PPV.

That's his choice. He ought to know it's not easy doing business outside of your promotion/network. Same people defending Haney are bashing Crawford because he signed with TR and PBC fighters won't give him a shot.