TEOFIMO Lopez and Devin Haney have both reportedly put pen to paper, confirming their eagerness for a summer sizzler in Saudi Arabia.
According to BoxingScene, the pair will square off at a catchweight of 145lbs, duking it out on the same night as Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach Jr’s expected rematch on August 16.
The event – most likely a Riyadh Season or Ring Magazine offering – is yet to be announced, though boxing paymaster Turki Alalshikh is seemingly poised to deliver the news before long.
Until that time comes, though, we are led to believe that Lopez, 22-1 (13 KOs), has amended his relationship with the Saudi government official and, in doing so, secured himself a lucrative payday.
The WBO world super-lightweight champion had, after all, jeopardised his negotiations with Haney, 32-0 (15 KOs), after initiating a bizarre diatribe via social media.
As it happens, most of his activity on X was directed at Alalshikh, who he claimed had ‘fired’ him in a series of posts that were later deleted.
Such accusations emerged after Lopez felt that the money on offer – for a clash with Haney, that is – was a far cry from what had been discussed for his previously mooted showdown with unified welterweight champion Jaron Ennis.
But now, it would appear that, after issuing a public apology, ‘The Takeover’ has since put his ego to one side and, in turn, agreed to face his American rival.
Haney, too, seems to have placed his signature on the dotted line, with the equally divisive yet talented two-division world champions entering a monumental dustup.
‘The Dream’ comes off a widely lambasted performance against Jose Ramirez, outpointing the faded veteran through 12 uninspiring rounds last month.
Lopez, meanwhile, featured on the same card, ending his run of underwhelming displays with a comprehensive unanimous decision victory over Arnold Barboza Jr.
