By Adam Baskin: Devin Haney laughed off the WBO, rejecting his request for a 24-hour extension to decide if he wants to fight for the 140-lb title.
Haney wants an extension from the WBO to find out if Teofimo Lopez will keep his 140-lb title. That’s a big money fight that Haney obviously would want more than any other at 140, apart from perhaps a match against Ryan Garcia.
As you can see, Haney is very calculated and wants to line up the best cash-out fight possible. Devin obviously knows he won’t hold onto his unbeaten record for much longer, and that’s why he’s trying to get the biggest possible payday before he’s beaten and his marketability plummets off the side of a cliff.
If Teofimo is giving up his WBO belt, Haney won’t be eager to fight #1 Arnold Barboza Jr (28-0, 10 KOs) because that’s a risky fight match-up for Devin, and the money that he would get wouldn’t be anything near what he’d get fighting Teo.
“HAHAHAHAHHAHA,” said Devin Haney on Twitter, reacting to the WBO denying his request for a 24-hour extension on their 140lb title ruling today.
“Wherefore, having considered the arguments provided by Team Haney, this Committee is denying the request and consequently enforcing the conditions set forth by this Committee in its Resolution,” said Luis Batista Salas, chairman of the championship commit for WBO.
Haney would have as much trouble trying to beat Teofimo, but it’s a bigger payday, so he’ll at least make a ton of money in losing that fight.
If Haney chooses not to meet the WBO’s 24-lb deadline, Barboza Jr and #2 WBO Jose Ramirez will fight for the vacant belt. They were ordered by the WBO yesterday to begin negotiations.
The WBO undisputed lightweight champion Haney had 24 hours, beginning yesterday, to decide whether he’ll fight for the 140-lb belt. However, Haney (30-0, 15 KOs) wanted more time before he made his decision to fight for the WBO 140-lb belt or not. Haney’s deadline ends tonight at 9:00 p.m. ET.
The WBO isn’t going to give him that time. It’s believed that Haney wants to see if the current WBO light welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez is going to let the World Boxing Organization know that he wants to keep his title rather than retiring, as he’d talked about doing.
Teofimo was also given a 24-lb deadline yesterday, which ends at the same time as Haney’s, and it doesn’t look like he will bother keeping his WBO title.
Devin is looking to transmute his unbeaten record and undisputed lightweight championship into the biggest payday possible, be it against Gervonta Davis, Teofimo, or Ryaan Garcia.
Haney was said to be interested in fighting WBC light welterweight champion Regis Prograis next, but it’s unknown whether he’ll do that.
Devin Haney’s options:
- Regis Prograis
- Gervonta Davis
- Arnold Barboza Jr
- Teofimo Lopez
- Shakur Stevenson
- Subriel Matias
- Frank Martin
The ones that Haney likely most covets are Tank Davis & Teofimo, and the ones he least wants are Shakur & Matias.
