Unified lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez was unimpressed by Devin Haney’s performance against Jorge Linares at the weekend.
The 22-year-old WBC regular champion was made to work hard for his victory over the Venezuelan rival but was comfortably the better boxer on the night according to most observers.
However Lopez pointed out what he believed to be some flaws in his game.
“Was that a lightweight champion performance from Devin Haney? No,” he declared. “He got booed by his own crowd, and in his hometown.
“When you go through adversity, if you don’t find a way to win, you don’t find a way to get the job done, they’re proud of what they did. You got clipped.
“The last two rounds, which are the championship rounds... because it sets the tone of who wants it the most, and he didn’t really do that.”
Lopez then talked up his own worth and abilities, telling the DAZN Boxing Show that he was ready to do a new deal with a fresh promoter after his tension with Top Rank.
“I’m open to the whole market,” he said. “When I bet on myself, I double down. We’re all talking about stocks over here, I invest in myself. If you want to invest in Teofimo, now is the best time.
“I speak well, I don't get into trouble. I stay focused on everything. I’m a walking brand and advertisement for everyone.
“I’ve always been a world champion, I’m a champion in life. I think we all are in our own unique way.
“The only thing to stop me getting big-headed is to humble me. At 23, I became undisputed at the lightweight division, what else is there to do?
“That’s what it’s all about. I want more, when there’s success there’s no such thing as too much of it. At 23, there’s so much more I could do and I’m focused.”
Of course, Teofimo's undisputed claims are chiefly disputed by Haney himself, with fans split as to whether or not Lopez or Haney is the 'true' WBC champion.