There will be no Devin Haney vs. Teofimo Lopez fight on August 16 as it is now being reported that negotiations between the two have collapsed, debunking earlier reports of the two fighters having signed on to fight each other. It further appears Lopez has rejected a contract for $11 million, which ultimately led to the collapse in negotiations.
BoxingScene’s first report on this matter styled the negotiations as having been finished, with contracts already signed and sealed and a date and location planned for August 16th in Saudi Arabia.
However, as it now turns out, there will be no Devin Haney (32-0, 15 KO’s) vs. Teofimo Lopez (22-1, 13 KO’s) after the latter was pinpointed as the reason for the fight collapsing, with additional information from Haney himself confirming there were no actual contracts signed.
“I was looking forward to making this fight with Teo, it’s been in the works for a while now,” Haney told The Ring.
“I thought this was the best time to make it happen. I did my part. We waited for days for Teo to sign his part of the contract and he came out and said this isn’t a fight he wants to make.
“I’m still willing to make the biggest and best fights. I’m looking forward to working with His Excellency, Riyadh Season and The Ring on the best possible opponent. Teo is a f—-ng duck. No promoter should work with Teo because he wasted everybody’s time.”
Prior to the contract rejection being known, Teofimo Lopez did reveal in a interview conducted earlier this week that he had been offered $11 million to fight Haney by allegedly Turki Alalshikh through any company [such as The Ring] he owns or is affiliated with.
“I can’t just pack up my bags and go wherever they please just because the financial stuff is there,” Lopez told Punsh Drunk Boxing.
“I’m not going to sell my soul for $11 million.“
Lopez’ rejection towards fighting Haney at reportedly a catchweight of 145 lbs is contradictory to the fighter’s entire behavior up to this point. Despite having admitted to using racism as a means to promote himself for fights with other black fighters, notably neglecting to call out fighters of any other ethnicity, it appears his promotional tactics are exactly that―a means to promote himself.
Just a few weeks earlier, WBA & WBO welterweight (147 lbs) Jaron Ennis (34-0, 30 KO’s) had been the latest fighter to be called out by Teofimo Lopez but it appears Lopez’ intentions are mostly based on drawing attention rather than arranging actual fights given the opportunity to fight Devin Haney.
