The lightweight division is shaping up to be the crown jewel of boxing. Three-belt champion Teofimo Lopez, WBC titlist Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, and Gervonta Davis head up the weight class.
The four young fighters have all discussed battling one another, but nothing yet has come to fruition. The closest thing was back in October after the Mikey Garcia-Sandor Martin fight when Lopez and Haney, along with their fathers, got into a heated confrontation about squaring off in the future. A verbal agreement of sorts took place between Teofimo Lopez Sr. and Bill Haney if their sons get past their next fights.
During a media workout on Tuesday ahead of Saturday's title defense against George Kambosos Jr. on DAZN, Lopez stated this is his last fight at 135 pounds because Haney, Garcia, nor Davis want to face off and wants to go up to 140 and challenge undisputed champion, Josh Taylor. Hearing what Lopez said only reaffirmed Haney's belief that there's hesitation in Lopez's voice to want to truly determine whose the undisputed lightweight champion.
"Yes, there’s definitely hesitation," Haney told DAZN News ahead of his Saturday, Dec. 4 title defense against Jo Jo Diaz on DAZN. "I've been calling for him for awhile now. One moment he says he'll fight me; he wants me next. One moment, he says he wants Josh Taylor. One moment, he says he’s going to go up. One moment, he says, due to this, he's going to fight to Gervonta Davis, or Bob (Arum, Lopez’ promoter) says he's going to play Gervonta Davis. One moment, Bob says he's gonna fight Shakur Stevenson.
"It is one lie after another. But at the end of the day, we don't get to those fights without Dec. 4. Dec. 4 is my main focus right now. I look to go in there, being the best Devin Haney that I can, go in there and put on the best performance that I can. And that's what I will do. I will go in there and show the world why I'm so dominant."
On whether he's going to watch Lopez-Kambosos or wait until after his fight with Diaz, "The Dream" hasn't decided.
"That's a good question because I'm actually debating if I'm gonna watch it or if I'm not gonna watch it. I don't know," Haney said.
Lopez is a significant favorite according to BetMGM to retain the IBF, WBA (super), and WBO titles over Kambosos. The tale of the tape and their respective resumes say Lopez should win. But that's why you fight because anything can happen once the bell sounds. Kambosos can win and upset the apple cart.
"He should win," Haney said. "On paper, it's lined up for him to win. But you can't take no one lightly. I can't take George Kambosos lightly. He's hungry. I've seen footage. I've been following him. He's hungry. He's not coming in here to lay down, so I can't take him lightly."