Bill Haney says Devin and Teofimo Lopez discussed future fight on Facetime
In his last fight, WBA super, WBO and IBF world lightweight champion Teofimo “El Brooklyn” Lopez (16-0, 12 KO’s) validated some and shocked others. He did so by defeating, and for large stretches out boxing, former three division champion Vasiliy “Hi-Tech” Lomachenko (14-2. 10 KO’s). Following the entertaining bout, and his unanimous decision win, the natural next question was what comes next?
Prior to the prizefight, El Brooklyn and his father/trainer, Teofimo Lopez Sr, gave many indications that they were moving up. However, during the post-fight conference immediately after the bout, Lopez said he may stick around for another fight. Even better, the newly crowned champ said he was very open to facing WBC world lightweight champion Devin “The Dream” Haney (24-0, 15 KO’s).
COULD FACETIME EQUAL FIGHT TIME?
Both Haney and Lopez have traded rough-words and insults for quite some time. Each are extremely talented young fighters with unlimited future potential. Yet, the biggest appeal of this would-be match-up is clearing up the sloppy mess created by the WBC. When Lopez defeated Loma, he also took ownership of his WBC “Franchise” title. And because Hi-Tech held the confusing trinket, the Lopez v Lomachenko bout was fraudulently billed as a ‘undisputed’ prizefight.
This was an impossibility though because Haney holds the actual WBC world lightweight title. Yet, for the fight fans who crave an actual undisputed lightweight champion crowned, there is even more hope. In an interview with Fight Hype, the Dream’s father and trainer, Bill Haney, supplied some interesting news. According to him, the two fighters have already spoken about the matter via Facetime.
“They’re young fighters, but they are big enough in their fight game and their business for me not to divulge what they talked about. But I know that they talked about the fight and they talked about making the fight. And I have always had pleasantries with Senior, and we have always talked about this coming to fruition. It’s just a matter of when and where.”
WE’RE HERE FOR THE FIGHT
Despite the informal nature of anything they discussed, its still wonderful to hear that the fighters were talking. Although, the Dream still has to take care of business against Yuriorkis Gamboa (30-3, 18 KO’s) on November 7. Provided that he is successful, facing Haney in an actual fight for undisputed would be a fantastic follow-up bout for the rising star Teofimo Lopez.
“Right now Devin is the WBC champ. Of course, Teofimo Lopez is IBF, WBO [super] and WBA champ. He is also the “Franchise” champ, which means that he can become Devin’s mandatory for the WBC at any given time. We are not in the position, because he has the “Franchise” championship, that we can challenge him.
“Because the “Franchise” belt is not to be challenged and that’s what that is. So, if the Lopez family, after November 7, decide that we are going to come to the table and make this thing happen, of course we want all the people to know that we’re welcome for it!”
By: Bakari Simpson
