Is Teofimo Lopez Fumbling A Career-High Payday with Haney?
WBO junior welterweight champion Teofimo “The Takeover” Lopez (21-1, 13 KO’s) once was primed to hold the keys to the kingdom. Yet, for whatever reason, he simply can’t get out of his own way. Caught in between fights, Lopez is once again involved in a war of words with WBC 140-pound Champion in Recess Devin “The Dream” Haney (31-0, 15 KO’s).
Haney and The Takeover have verbally jousted for years and over two divisions. Vexingly, all the Twitter fingers and jaw-jacking have yielded no actual duel. On the outside looking in though, it appears that Team Lopez is the more reluctant party. This is due to their frequent roadblocks.
These impediments generally revolve around financial demands. On other occasions, Lopez simply claimed Haney is not worthy. Currently, The Takeover is now saying Haney is ducking because he did not accept his latest offer. The trouble with this is Team Haney had already offered Lopez a fight via Chairman Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season.
HOW IS LESS MORE?!
According to Bill Haney, Devin Haney’s father, chief second and manager, The Takeover rejected this deal and submitted his own offer as funneled through his own Top Rank promoters. Predictably, Devin Haney declined. And this is where personal interpretation will enter. Some will say The Takeover is merely trying to retain control as the A-side, while others will say it’s a duck.
Between the two, as the story goes, Chairman Turki Alalshikh is supplying much meatier paydays than Top Rank. Funny enough, on several occasions, Lopez himself has complained at length about his meager payouts. Add to this, Bob Arum of Top Rank recently stated that The Takeover is no pay-per-view star. Knowing all of this, it’s hard to construct a sturdy rationale as to why The Takeover would sidestep a career-high payday to face a longtime, potentially damaged rival. Why turn this all down to chase short money?
Lopez can’t even claim loyalty to Top Rank. When looking to make his now fateful fight with George Kambosos, The Takeover and his team fashioned a deal with Team Kambosos behind Top Rank’s back. The oily-palmed deception definitely spurred Arum’s ire. Yet, if he was willing to shop around for the most money then, why would The Takeover not do so now – especially, for potentially substantially more money?
ONE-MAN BAND
Teofimo Lopez has been on a weird road for a little while now. As he continues to turn in erratic performances, maintain a racially grotesque social persona and try to mastermind “pistol to foot” type deals, it will be interesting to see what becomes of his career in 2025. To begin however, he must sign the first contract. So let’s see who that opponent turns out to be. At the moment, once again, it appears that Devin Haney will not be that dance partner.
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