Lopez will be defending his championship belt for the second time in a match against Steve Claggett, which will be aired live on Sky Sports starting at 2 am on Sunday. There have been discussions about a potential bout between Lopez and Haney if Lopez successfully defends his title.
However, as per The New Yorker, a bout with WBA lightweight champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis would be a more captivating fight.
Haney is the WBC super lightweight champion in recess after his defeat to Ryan Garcia in April was declared a no contest due to his opponent testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
Lopez said of Haney: “He is nowhere near any picture.
“He has been helped a lot, in many ways. They wanted to make him seem like he is the greatest. I don’t hate the kid, I’m not knocking him down.
“When I lost to George Kambosos Jr, he and his father were jumping up and down 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 believe Haney is the American dream, I don’t believe he is the next Mayweather or any narrative they want to put out there.
“I believe Haney is someone who reaches a certain level in life and is going to stay there forever.
“I have already proved [I am a level above Haney] without having to fight him, I don’t need to face this guy. He has just lost.”
‘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 “aims for greatness”.
The 26-year-old said: “I have got a tough competitor ahead of me, he is hungry. It is almost like a Rocky Balboa story for this guy. I can’t overlook nobody. He does not stop throwing punches.
“He has everything to gain, I have everything to lose. I always pick the toughest fights – my résumé speaks loudly.
“You can’t say you are arguably the best in the world without facing the best. You can’t say you are the Muhammad Ali of this generation without doing what Muhammad Ali has done.
“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 am only getting better, I am not at my prime just yet but we are reaching it. I think that’s the best part. I aim for greatness and I always 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 see a whole new genre of Teofimo the next couple of years.”
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