Lopez On Davis Declining Haney Title Fight

Teofimo Lopez called Keyshawn Davis's decision to pull out of a title fight with Devin Haney a duck move after his own promotional company lost the purse bid.

Lopez's Takeover Promotions put in an offer for the ordered lightweight clash, but Top Rank won the rights with what Bad Left Hook reports was an unusually high bid. Davis then withdrew from the fight, citing financial disagreements.

Lopez Questions Davis's Withdrawal After Purse Bid

"That's insane to me," Lopez said, per Bad Left Hook. "Maybe something with his legal team and all that, with the Keyshawn Davis side. But this doesn't look good on him, on that part."

Lopez suggested Davis might have another deal lined up elsewhere, but questioned the timing of the withdrawal. "I think it was [a duck]," he added. "Once it gets to purse bid, if you pull out it's a duck move because you're basically letting whoever wants to bid on it take the fight, so you're basically saying yes, and then that happens, which I've never seen Top Rank bid that high in my entire career."

The IBF had ordered the Haney-Davis fight, and Davis's withdrawal means the sanctioning body will likely mandate an alternative challenger. Lopez said his company plans to remain active in the promotional space despite losing this bid.

Reported via:

• Bad Left Hook — ‘That’s insane to me’: Teofimo Lopez surprised Keyshawn Davis declined Devin Haney title fight