Amid the confusion surrounding the WBC lightweight title picture, Teofimo Lopez says that Devin Haney must fight some top ten opponents to earn his shot at the undisputed crown.
Lopez currently holds the WBC ‘franchise’ belt alongside the WBO, WBA and IBF belts, while Haney is considered WBC lightweight champion. Ryan Garcia is the WBC ‘interim’ title holder following his victory over Luke Campbell.
Lopez is widely expected to defend his titles against IBF mandatory George Kambosos Jr next, but says he is open to facing Haney down the line if his American counterpart proves his world-level credentials.
“Oh yeah, absolutely [I would face Haney],” Lopez told The AK and Barak Show. “As long as Haney keeps winning and actually fights opposition in the top ten, because he hasn’t yet fought anyone top ten in the lightweight division, along with Gervonta Davis as well.”
“The only person who has stepped up, who got dropped in the second round and got back up to win, was Ryan Garcia. These guys, they’ve gotta prove something. The same way I had to prove myself to be able to fight Lomachenko for all the belts. There ain’t no handouts. I’m not gonna give them things I had to work so hard for.”
