Despite Teofimo Lopez’s notable triumph over former undisputed light welterweight champ, Josh Taylor, Devin Haney remains unconvinced of Lopez’s supremacy in the 140-lb division. Instead, Haney places his bets on WBC champion Regis Prograis as the division’s top contender. The two are deep in negotiation for a bout rumored to be scheduled this October. “I can’t say he’s ‘The guy,’” Haney remarked about Lopez. “He’s probably the most popular in the 140-lb division, but I think Regis would be that guy at 140.”
While Haney sets his sights on Prograis, a potential victory could pave the way for a colossal showdown with WBO champion Lopez in a two-belt unification fight. This bout promises high stakes and high rewards, lining up the winner to chase the remaining two 140-lb belts against WBA champion Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero and IBF titleholder Subriel Matias.
However, the looming shadow of Haney's controversial bout against Vasily Lomachenko threatens to cast a pall. This past May, after being declared the winner against Lomachenko at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Haney faced significant backlash from fans who believed the judges favored him unjustly. Addressing his forthcoming fight, Haney stated, “Right now, we’re just ironing out some things in the contract. Hopefully, it gets announced soon, and we can iron those things out and make the fight happen.”
Subriel Matias, the current IBF champion, isn’t one to be left out of the conversation. Recently making headlines, Matias expressed his interest in battling Haney while mocking his fighting style.
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