Devin Haney accuses Teofimo Lopez of ‘ducking’ a fight after rumored talks fell apart for a bout at 145 pounds on August 16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
What happened?
Haney signed his part of the agreement, but Lopez stalled and ultimately decided not to fight, according to Haney's post on X.
The disagreement centered on the weight, with Haney wanting the fight at 147 pounds and Lopez preferring his natural weight division of 140 pounds.
Why it matters for Devin Haney
This development comes after Haney's unanimous decision win over Josè Ramirez in his welterweight debut on May 2, where he wasn't at his sharpest due to a one-year hiatus.
Haney's victory positioned him for a potential rematch with Ryan Garcia later this fall, but Garcia's recent surgery on his right hand may affect those plans.
What comes next?
Lopez, the current WBO champion, had expressed interest in fighting unified welterweight champion Jaron Ennis, but Ennis's team turned down the potential fight.
The feud between Haney and Lopez dates back to their time at lightweight, with each taking jabs at the other on social media and a tense altercation in 2021.
Haney's record stands at 32-0 with 15 KOs, while Lopez is 22-1 with 13 KOs.
The catchweight of 145 pounds was reportedly agreed upon, but the fight is now off the table.
And Haney is left looking for his next opponent, with several options available.
But the fight with Lopez would have been a highly anticipated bout.
So the boxing world will have to wait for another potential matchup between these two rivals.
Lopez cruised to a unanimous decision win against Arnold Barboza Jr. in his last fight.
Haney's next move will be closely watched, given his recent return to action.
The rivalry between Haney and Lopez continues to simmer, with no end in sight.