Teofimo Lopez Sr. Passes Over Haney for Rolly vs Cruz Winner
WBO junior welterweight champion Teofimo “The Takeover” Lopez (19-1, 13 KO’s) could have fought Devin “The Dream” Haney (31-0, 15 KO’s) when they both were lightweights. Their duel would have determined the real undisputed champion at the time. The bout was never contracted. Now, they can unify at junior welterweight. However, according to Teofimo Lopez Sr., The Takeover’s father and chief second, they are more interested in the Rolando Romero vs Isaac Cruz winner.
“That’s up to them. We’re not even worried about those guys right now, we are just thinking about Jamaine Ortiz, right now. We are focused on him first and focus on putting up a great performance on February 8, and we’ll talk about that later on. We called them out numerous times, you know that fight is not getting made. Not any time soon, especially with what we’re going to do on February 8.”
“That’s a 50/50 fight; Rolly can punch, Cruz can punch as well. It depends who is the better fighter that night. They both got to bring everything they got. It’s a tough match for both of them. And whoever comes up victorious, we’re ready man. We ready to take whoever it is to unify the belts. So whoever wins, we are ready to fight.”
BEHIND DOOR NUMBER…
It’s somewhat odd that Team Lopez are still dealing with the Haney’s with such a long-handled spoon. Of the three options, clearly WBC junior welterweight champion Devin Haney, as a two-division champion and former undisputed champion, is the most highly decorated.
Next would be WBA 140-pound champion Rolly Romero (15-1, 13 KO’s), who many believe received a gift decision in his last duel versus Ismael Barroso. There is a healthy populace of fans, including 3Kings Boxing, who believe that Rolly snagged another gift decision versus Jackson Marinez as well. Nevertheless, Romero does have a title and a successful pay-view-view with WBA lightweight champion Abdul “Tank” Wahid.
Last is Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (25-2-1, 17 KO’s) who, realistically speaking, is on the big stage. He brings little else than a high profile loss to the aforementioned Tank. Outside of Tank and a badly faded Yuriorkis Gamboa, there is not enough meat on the bone to entice the casual observer.
ONE IN HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH
This is, again, why it seems so odd that Team Lopez is ready, willing and eager to make a fight with whoever emerges from the Rolly versus Pitbull dog fight. Yet, when it comes to Haney, they’re focused on Jamaine Ortiz now, so maybe later, maybe never? Why such a difference in approach?
Regardless of motivations and insinuations, Team Lopez does have to focus on the task at hand. Their next adversary in Jamaine Ortiz should be no walk in the park. If caught on a bad night, or simply overlooking him, Ortiz is the type of pugilist who just might steal the show. So, first let’s see what The Takeover does with Ortiz because all the talks about “the next big fight” could easily go up in smoke.
