By Jeff Aronow: Devin Haney lashed out at Top Rank promoter Bob Arum for him helping Teofimo Lopez duck a fight against him. Haney says Arum is “bad for boxing” because he’s letting Teofimo swerve him.
In an interview, Arum said that WBC lightweight champion Haney (25-0, 15 KOs) isn’t a big enough name for Teofimo, and that wouldn’t generate revenue.
The issue that Arum has with the 21-year-old Haney is, he’s not fought anyone good enough yet to expand his name. If Teofimo were to fight Haney now, the fight won’t generate money.
Arum insists that Haney needs to “prove himself,” but unfortunately, by the time he does, Teofimo will have moved up to 140.
Haney still lacking in popularity
By defeating Haney before he’s developed a fan base, Teofimo would be ruining the fight for later because he’s too green right now, both in experience and popularity.
Haney is well known by the ultra-hardcore boxing fans, the ones that follow the sport closely, but the casual fans have never heard of him yet.
Moreover, Haney has looked poor in his last two fights against Yuriorkis Gamboa and Alfredo Santiago. Fans are starting to realize that he’s not major talent. Haney is a belt-holder, lacks punching power, and has been carefully matched by his management.
Arum says the fighters that he’s interested in matching his undisputed lightweight champion Teofimo (16-0, 12 KOs) against are these three guys:
- George Kambosos Jr.
- Ryan Garcia
- Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis
George Kambosos Jr. (19-0, 10 KOs) is expected to be IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO lightweight champion Teofimo’s next title defense in early 2021.
Teofimo has to defend his against Kambosos Jr, as he’s his IBF mandatory challenger. Other than that, he brings nothing to the table just like Haney.
Bob Arum is everything wrong with boxing! Lol saving face for Teo Lopez ducking. Weak hall of fame promoter tactics. BS! Stay woke.
— Devin Haney (@Realdevinhaney) December 1, 2020
Teofimo, 23, only hand two or three fights left in him at 135 before he’ll be forced to move up to 140, considering he’s getting too big for the lightweight division.
While Teofimo can still make the 135-lb limit, he wants to make the most money he can against Ryan Garcia and Gervonta Davis. Those would be pay-per-view level fights.
Arum says Haney needs to “prove himself”
“I’d like him to fight Ryan Garcia if he beats Campbell, that would be a great fight to make,” said Bob Arum about Teofimo Lopez. “Tank Davis is a possibility. Those are the major fights that he would do. He only wants major fights.
“No, Haney has got to prove himself. It’s all bull s***,” Arum said when asked if Devin Haney would be a good option for Teofimo. “Who cares?
“Let him fight someone that is real and then you can match him with Teofimo Lopez. Haney vs. Teofimo Lopez is NOT a fight that is going to generate revenue,” Arum said.
Haney turned off many boxing fans with his dull 12 round unanimous decision win over 39-year-old Yuriorkis Gamboa last month on November 7th on DAZN.
Devin boxed in a safety-first manner, showing no power and not stepping on the gas to try and knockout Gamboa.
Haney’s promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing needs to match him against some of the notable lightweights to prove himself.
Good options for Haney:
- Miguel Berchelt – after he moves up from 130
- Shakur Stevenson
- Jorge Linares
- Javier Fortuna
- Luke Campbell
- Rolando Romero
- Robeert Easter Jr
- Vasyl Lomachenko
- Denys Berinchyk
Teofimo is coming off of a huge win WBA/WBC/WBO lightweight champion Vasily Lomachenko on October 17th in Las Vegas. That was a big upset, and the fight turned Teofimo an overnight star.