By Huck Allen: Devin Haney says he wants promoter Bob Arum to shut up because his fighter Vasily Lomachenko “had his shot” and he lost the fight to Teofimo Lopez in 2020. WBC lightweight champion Haney (27-0, 15 KOs) wants to be the one that faces Teofimo’s conqueror George Kambosos Jr. for the undisputed 135-lb championship next.
Kambososo’s recent upset win over Teofimo last November has transformed him into a fighter that now calls the shots. Sounding a lot like a mini-Canelo Alvarez, Kambosos says, “I get to choose who I want.”
Devin wants the Kambosos fight, but his promoter Eddie Hearn needs to outbid Arum’s Top Rank company, which works with ESPN
Haney and Lomachenko are the two fighters that Kambosos is reportedly deciding on for his next fight. Arum said this week a fight between #1 WBC Lomachenko (16-2, 11 KOs) and Kambosos is “Much bigger” than a Kambosos-Haney fight because “Nobody knows” Haney in Australia.
This is Haney’s best chance to become the #1 fighter at 135 because he matches up better against Kambosos than Lomachenko or Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis. Haney is expected to move up to 140 after his next fight, so it’s vital that he get the Kambosos fight.
Lomachenko had his shot says Haney
Haney’s fans quickly reacted to Arum’s comments with anger, criticizing the promoter and saying he’s wrong. With that said, Arum is probably right about Lomachenko being better known in Australia because he’s been in the pro ranks for a lot longer, and he’d been viewed in the past as the #1 fighter at 126, 130, and 135.
“STFU, BOB! LOMA HAD HIS SHOT!” said Devin Haney on Twitter in sending a message that he should be the one that faces Kambosos next instead of Lomachenko.
Haney is an excellent fighter, but he’s NOT viewed as the #1 guy at lightweight. Right now, Haney is what you call a ‘belt holder,’ as he was installed as the WBC lightweight champion outside of the ring by the World Boxing Council.
April was when the Australian Kambosos (20-0, 10 KOs) said he planned on defending his four lightweight titles, but with the COVID-19 restrictions in Australia, it’s questionable whether that month is too soon.
With crowds capped at 50% capacity in Australia at the open, it’s not going to work out for Kambosos to fight in a large stadium in that country as he’d talked about.
Kambosos wants promoters to show him the money
“I think he had more time to prepare and he came ready. His body looked great and he made the weight,” said Kambosos Jr. to Walking the Floor Podcast on his fight against Teofimo last November.
“The most important thing now is I’m the boss now regardless of anyone in my team. I’m the boss and I get to choose who I want to fight. It will be no tune-up fight, there will be no easy defense.
“I’m jumping in there with the next best guy. I’m already studying these guys, writing my notes, seeing what they do good and what they don’t do good.
“Their promoters need to show me what they’re willing to do. I love the Haney fight, I love the Lomachenko fight, I love the Tank Davis fight, and I love the Ryan Garcia fight,” said Kambosos Jr. when asked who he matches up with best. “It will be one of these guys 110%,” said Kambosos.
Lomachenko, 33, has won his last two fights since losing to Teofimo in 2020. Still, Haney has an unbeaten record and holds the WBC title, which puts him ahead of Lomachenko in theory. Again, it’s going to come down to the money.
“I could easily go have two, three, or four tuneup fights, but that’s not a true warrior,” said Kambosos.”I need the excitement against another great warrior.
“Even the rematch [with Teofimo Lopez]. It could be there, but they want nothing to do with me, but it could be there if they wanted it,” said Kambosos.