Reigning WBC super-lightweight champion Devin Haney has made headlines this week after threatening to take a two-year break from boxing and return only for a rematch with Ryan Garcia. However, veteran promoter Bob Arum has offered Haney a lifeline that could convince him to change his mind.
Haney suffered a first career ‘defeat’ when he lost a majority-decision to Garcia back in April, but the fact that ‘King Ry’ missed weight beforehand meant that Haney was able to keep hold of the belt. That loss has now been overturned, as Garcia tested positive for Ostarine on both the day of the weigh-in and the fight, initially meaning Haney’s record suffered a blemish until the new verdict was reached.
As a result, Haney was expected to move on and face his mandatory challenger Sandor Martin after purse bids for the bout were called. To the surprise of Haney, Eddie Hearn and Matchroom have refused to make an offer for the fight and soon after that news broke, ‘The Dream’ declared that he will take a break from the sport.
Speaking to Fight Hype, Top Rank Promoter Arum maintained hopeful that Martin would get his shot.
“Eddie Hearn and DAZN have their own agenda, maybe their money was directed elsewhere to other fights, I don’t know. As far as we are concerned, everybody had notice of the purse bid and we put a bid in based off of what we thought the fight was worth. We won the bid, nobody else bid but we won the bid anyway and we intend to put the fight on if Haney is willing to go through with the fight.
“If he is not, then he will give up the title and do other things. Again, we like that fight, we think that Martin is underrated and we think that it is an interesting fight and hopefully we will be able put it on. All that we can do it put a bid in and send each fighter a contract.
“They have ten days to sign the contract, Sandor indicated that he is signing it, if Haney doesn’t sign it within ten days, then he loses the title and he will figure out some other thing to do. But, I am hopeful that Devin will sign the contract and we can do a fight in the fall or winter with him and Sandor Martin.”
Furthermore, Arum went on to detail that a fight between WBO champion Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney could be on the table, should the 25-year-old choose to swerve the clash with Martin and relinquish his world title.
“Everything is possible, if Devin decides to give up his title, which he would have to do if he doesn’t fight Martin, I am not going to be angry at him. If we can arrange a Teofimo-Haney fight, which is an interesting fight, then we will try to do that.”
Before any serious talks can commence, Lopez must first get past Canada’s Steve Claggett – who he fights on June 29th.
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