WBO super-lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez says he’s a degree above Devin Haney and does no longer want to struggle him to end up it.
Lopez makes the second one defence of his belt towards Steve Claggett survive Sky Sports activities from 2am on Sunday, and a accident with Haney has been mooted must ‘The Takeover’ come thru.
On the other hand, the Unutilized Yorker says a bout with WBA light-weight champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis could be a extra “eye-candy” struggle.
Haney is the WBC super-lightweight ‘champion in refreshment’ following his defeat to Ryan Garcia in April being rendered a refuse match then his opponent examined sure for performance-enhancing medication.
Lopez stated of Haney: “He’s nowhere similar any image.
“He has been helped a dozen, in some ways. They sought after to form him look like he’s the best. I don’t dislike the child, I’m no longer knocking him indisposed.
“Once I misplaced to George Kambosos Jr, he and his father have been leaping up and indisposed celebrating.
“When he lost to Garcia, I didn’t jump up and down. I just said okay and wished him nothing but the best because I know what it feels like.
“I don’t consider Haney is the American dream, I don’t consider he’s the upcoming Mayweather or any narrative they wish to put available in the market.
“I believe Haney is someone who reaches a certain level in life and is going to stay there forever.
“I’ve already proved [I am a level above Haney] with no need to struggle him, I don’t want to face this man. He has simply misplaced.”
‘I always pick the toughest fights – I aim for greatness’
Lopez (20-1) – who said he would love to fight in the UK one day – will not be taking Canadian Claggett (38-7-2) lightly, insisting he always looks for arduous fights as he “targets for greatness”.
The 26-year-old said: “I’ve were given a tricky competitor forward of me, he’s hungry. It’s virtually like a Rocky Balboa tale for this man. I will be able to’t fail to remember no person. He does no longer prohibit throwing punches.
“He has everything to gain, I have everything to lose. I always pick the toughest fights – my résumé speaks loudly.
“You’ll’t say you might be arguably the most efficient on the planet with out going through the most efficient. You’ll’t say you’re the Muhammad Ali of this presen with out doing what Muhammad Ali has carried out.
I wish to know extra, I wish to be informed extra. You by no means determine boxing out and simply while you suppose you could have figured it out, growth, right here comes one thing else. That’s the rationale I really like my game essentially the most.
“You can’t say you are the throwback fighter without facing adversity and overcoming it. If I say all this stuff and don’t back it up, I am a hypocrite. Then it’s talking smack, not the truth.
“I’m simplest getting higher, It’s not that i am at my top simply but however we’re achieving it. I believe that’s the most efficient section. I struggle for greatness and I at all times have.
“The tremendous amount of fighters I have faced already at a young age… because of those champions and their styles, I have only got better.
“You guys are going to look an entire untouched style of Teofimo the upcoming couple of years.”
Keep tabs on Teofimo Lopez vs Steve Claggett survive Sky Sports activities Motion and Sky Sports activities Major Match from 2am on Sunday.
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